THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


BOBBY'S  FIRST  VICTORY. 


NOW    OR   NEVER; 


THE  ADVENTURES 


OBEY    BRIGHT 


A  STORY  FOR  YOUNG  FOLKS. 


BT 

OLIVER    OPTIC, 

AtJTHOB   OT  "THE    BOAT   CLUB,"    "ALL   ABOABD," 
••  lH    i/UUKo  AflU   JU'l/     KTO. 


BOSTON: 
LEE     AND     SHEPARD, 

(SUCCESSORS  TO  PHILLIPS,  SAMPSON  &  co.)" 

1869. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1856,  by 

WILLIAM   T.    ADAMS, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


GEO  C.  RAND  &  AVERY,  PRINTERS,  BOSTON. 


TO 


MY      X  E  PHEW, 


CHARLES    HENRY    POPX 


18  AFFKCT10NATELY  DEDICATED. 


PEEFACE. 


THE  story  contained  in  this  volume  is  a  record  of  youth« 
fill  struggles,  not  only  in  tne  world  without,  but  in  the 
world  within ;  and  the  success  of  tne  little  hero  is  not 
merely  a  gathering  up  of  wealth  and  honors,  but  a  triumph 
over  the  temptations  that  beset  the  pilgrim  on  the  plain  of 
life.  The  attainment  of  worldly  prosperity  is  not  the  truest 
victory ;  and  the  author  has  endeavored  to  make  the  inter 
est  of  his  story  depend  more  on  the  hero's  devotion  tc 
principles  than  on  his  success  in  business. 

Bobby  Bright  is  a  smart  boy ;  perhaps  the  reader  wiL 
think  he  is  altogether  too  smart  for  one  of  his  years.  This 
is  a  progressive  age,  and  any  thing  which  Young  America 
may  do  need  not  surprise  any  person.  That  little  gentle 
man  is  older  than  his  father,  knows  more  than  his  mother, 
can  talk  politics,  smoke  cigars,  and  drive  a  2 : 40  horse. 
He  orders  "  one  stew "  with  as  much  ease  as  a  man  o( 
forty,  and  can  even  pronounce  correctly  the  villanous  names 
of  sundry  French  and  German  wines  and  liqueurs.  One 
1*  (§) 


6  PREFACE. 

would  suppcse,  to  hear  him  talk,  that  he  had  been  intimate 
with  Socrates  and  Solon,  with  Napoleon  and  Noah  Web 
ster;  in  short,  that  whatever  he  did  not  know  was  not 
worth  knowing. 

In  the  face  of  these  manifestations  of  exuberant  genius, 
it  would  be  absurd  to  accuse  the  author  of  making  his  hero 
do  too  much.  All  he  has  done  is  to  give  this  genius  a 
right  direction ;  and  for  politics,  cigars,  2  : 40  horses,  and 
"one  stew,"  he  has  substituted  the  duties  of  a  rational 
and  accountable  being,  regarding  them  as  better  fitted  to 
develop  the  young  gentleman's  mind,  heart,  and  soul. 

Bobby  Brignt  is  something  more  than  a  smart  boy.  He 
is  a  good  boy,  and  makes  a  true  man.  His  daily  life  is  the 
moral  of  the  story,  and  the  author  hopes  that  his  devotion 
to  principle  will  make  a  stronger  impression  upon  the  mind 
of  the  young  reader,  than  even  the  most  exciting  incidents 
of  his  eventful  career. 

WILLIAM  f .  ADAMS. 

DOKCHESTER,  Nov.  15, 1856. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  I.  —  In  which  Bobby  goes  a  fishing,  and  catches  a 
Horse 11 

CHAP.  II.  —  In  which  Bobby  blushes  several  Times,  and  does 
a  Sum  in  Arithmetic ..22 

CHAP.  III.  —  In  which  the  Little  Black  House  is  bought,  but 
not  paid  for 33 

CHAP.  IV.  —  In  which  Bobby  gets  out  of  one  Scrape,  and 
into  another.        .........43 

CHAP.  V.  —  In  which  Bobby  gives  his  Note  for  Sixty  Dollars.    55 
CHAP.  VI.  —  In  which  Bobby  sets  out  on  his  Travels.     .        .67 

CHAP.  VII.  —  In  which  Bobby  stands  up  for  certain  "  Inalien 
able  Rights."       77 

CHAP.  VIII.  —  In  which  Mr.  Timmins   is   astonished,  and 
Bobby  dines  in  Chestnut  Street.         .        .        .        .        .    8b 

CHAP.  IX.  —  In  which  Bobby  opens  various  Accounts,  and 
wins  his  first  Victory. 99 

CHAP.  X.  —  In  which  Bobby  is  a  little  too  smart.    .        .        .111 

(7) 


8  CONTENTS. 

BMB 

CHAP.  XI.  —  In  which  Bobby  strikes  a  Balance,  and  returns 

to  Biverdale.      .        .        .       .       .       .       .        .        .123 

CHAP.  XII.  —  In  which  Bobby  astonishes  sundry  Persons, 

and  pays  Fart  of  his  Note 134 

CHAP.  XIII.  —  In  which  Bobby  declines  a  Copartnership, 

and  visits  B again 148 

CHAP.  XIV.  —  In  which  Bobby's  Air  Castle  is  upset,  and 

Tom  Spicer  takes  to  the  Woods 163 

CHAP.  XV.  —  In  which  Bobby  gets  into  a  Scrape,  and  Tom 

Spicer  turns  up  again 175 

CHAP.  XVI.  —  In  which  Bobby  finds  "  it  is  an  ill  wind  that 

blows  no  one  any  good."  .......    187 

CHAP.  XVII.  — In  which  Tom  has  a  good  Time,  and  Bobby 

meets  with  a  terrible  Misfortune 199 

CHAP.  XVIII.  —  In  which  Bobby  takes  French  Leave,  and 

camps  in  the  Woods.        .        .       .       .        .        .        .    213 

CHAP.  XIX.  —  In  which  Bobby  has  a  narrow  Escape,  and 

goes  to  Sea  with  Sam  Ray. 225 

CHAP.  XX.  —  In  which  the  Clouds  blow  over,  and  Bobby  is 

himself  again.  .........    239 

CHAP.  XXI.  —  In  which  Bobby  steps  off  the  Stage,  and  the 

Author  must  finish  "  Now  or  Never."  .        .  254 


NOW   OR  NEVER 


NOW    OR   NEVER; 

OB, 

THE  ADVENTURES   OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT, 


CHAPTER    I. 

OS    WHICH    BOBBY    GOES    A    FISHING,    AND    CATCHES 
A    HORSE. 

"  BY  jolly  !  I've  got  a  bite  !  "  exclaimed  Tom 
Spicer,  a  rough,  hard-looking  boy,  who  sat  on  a  rock 
by  the  river's  side,  anxiously  watching  the  cork 
float  on  his  line. 

"  Catch  him,  then,"  quietly  responded  Bobby 
Bright,  who  occupied  another  rock  near  the  first 
speaker,  as  he  pulled  up  a  large  pout,  and,  without 
any  appearance  of  exultation,  proceeded  to  unhook 
and  place  him  in  his  basket. 


12  NOW    OK    XEVEK  ;    OK, 

"Ycu  are  a  lucky  dog,  Bob,"  added  Tom,  as  he 
glanced  into  the  basket  of  his  companion,  which  now 
contained  six  good-sized  fishes.  "  I  haven't  caught 
one  yet." 

"  You  don't  fish  deep  enough." 

"  I  fish  on  the  bottom." 

"  That  is  too  deep." 

**  It  don't  make  any  difference  how  I  fish ;  it  is  all 
luck." 

"  Not  all  luck,  Tom ;  there  is  something  in  doing 
it  right." 

"I  shall  not  catch  a  fish,"  continued  Tom,  in 
despair. 

"  You'll  catch  something  else,  though,  wnen  you  gc 
home." 

"  Will  I  ?  " 

"  I'm  afraid  you  will." 

"Who  says  I  will?" 

"  Didn't  you  tell  me  you  were  '  hooking  jack  '  ?  " 

"  Who  is  going  to  know  any  thing  about  it  ?  " 

"  The  master  will  know  you  are  absent." 

"  I  shall  tell  him  my  mother  sent  me  over  to  the1 
village  on  an  errand/' 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.     13 

"  I  never  knew  a  fellow  to  '  hook  jack,'  yet,  with 
out  getting  found  out." 

"  I  shall  not  get  found  out  unless  you  blow  on  me ; 
and  you  wouldn't  be  mean  enough  to  do  that ;  "  and 
Tom  glanced  uneasily  at  his  companion. 

"  Suppose  your  mother  should  ask  me  if  I  had 
seen  you." 

"  You  would  tell  her  you  have  not,  of  course." 

"  Of  course  ?  " 

"  Why,  wouldn't  you  ?  Wouldn't  you  do  as  much 
as  that  for  a  fellow  ?  " 

"  It  would  be  a  lie." 

"  A  lie  !     Humph  !  " 

"  I  wouldn't  lie  for  any  fellow,"  replied  Bobby, 
stoutly,  as  he  pulled  in  his  seventh  fish,  and  placed 
him  in  the  basket. 

"  Wouldn't  you  ?  " 

"  No,  I  wouldn't." 

"  Then,  let  me  tell  you  this  ;  if  you  peach  on  me 
I'll  smash  your  head." 

Tom  Spicer  removed  one  hand  from  the  fish  pole 
and,  doubling  his  fist,  shook  it  with  energy  at  his 
companion. 


14  NOW  OK  NEVER;  OR, 

**  Smash  away,"  replied  Bobby,  coolly.  "  I  shall 
uot  go  out  of  my  way  to  tell  tales ;  but  if  youl 
mother  or  the  master  asks  me  the  question,  I  shall 
not  lie." 

"  Won't  you  ?  " 

"  No,  I  won't." 

"  I'll  bet  you  will ;  "  and  Tom  dropped  his  fish 
pole,  and  was  on  the  point  of  jumping  over  to  the 
rock  occupied  by  Bobby,  when  the  £oat  of  the  former 
disappeared  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water. 

"  You  have  got  a  bite,"  coolly  interposed  Bobby, 
pointing  to  the  line. 

Tom  snatched  the  pole,  and  with  a  violent  twitch, 
pulled  up  a  big  pout ;  but  his  violence  jerked  the 
hook  out  of  the  fish's  mouth,  and  he  disappeared  be 
neath  the  surface  of  the  river. 

"  Just  my  luck !  "  muttered  Tom. 

"  Keep  cool,  then." 

"  I  will  fix  you  yet." 

"  All  right ;  but  you  had  better  not  let  go  your 
pole  again,  or  you  will  lose  another  fish." 

"  I'm  bound  tc  smash  your  head,  though." 

"  No,  you  won  :." 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  15 

"Won't  I?" 

"  Two  can  play  at  that  game." 

"  Do  you  stump  me  ?  " 

"  No ;  I  don't  want  to  fight ;  I  won't  fight  if   ] 
can  help  it." 

"  I'll  bet  you  won't !  "  sneered  Tom. 

"  But  I  will  defend  myself." 

"  Humph !  " 

"  I  am  not  a  liar,  and  the  fear  of  a   flogging  shall 
not  make  me  tell  a  lie." 

"  Go  to  Sunday  school  —  don't  you  ?  " 

"  I  do  ;  and  besides  that,  my  mother  always  taugh 
me  never  to  tell  a  lie." 

"  Come  !  you  needn't  preach  to  me.     By  and  by, 
you  will  call  me  a  liar." 

"  No,  I  won't ;    but  just  now   you   told   me  you 
meant  to  lie  to  your  mother,  and  to  the  master." 

"  What  if  I  did  ?     That  is  none  of  your  business." 

"  It  is  my  business  when  you  want  me   to  lie  fol 
7ou,  though  ;  and  I  shall  not  do  it." 

"  Blow  on  me,  and  see  what  you  will  get  " 

"  I  don't  mean  t  >  bljw  on  you." 

"  Yes  you  do." 


16  NOW  OR  NEVER;  OB, 

"  I  will  not  lie  about  it ;  that's  all." 

"  By  jolly  !  see  that  horse  !  "  exclaimed  Tom,  sud 
denly,  as  he  pointed  to  the  road  leading  to  Riverdale 
centre. 

*'  By  gracious !  "  added  Bobby,  droppjig  his  fish 
pole,  as  he  saw  the  horse  running  at  a  furious  rate  up 
the  road  from  the  village. 

The  mad  animal  was  attached  to  a  chaise,  in 
which  was  seated  a  lady,  whose  frantic  shrieks  pierced 
the  soul  of  our  youthful  hero. 

The  course  of  the  road  was  by  the  river's  side  for 
nearly  half  a  mile,  and  crossed  the  stream  at  a  wooden 
bridge  but  a  few  rods  from  the  place  where  the  boys 
were  fishing. 

Bobby  Bright's  impulses  were  noble  and  generous  ; 
and  without  stopping  to  consider  the  peril  to  which 
the  attempt  would  expose  him,  he  boldly  resolved  to 
stop  that  horse,  or  let  the  animal  dash  him  to  pieces 
on  the  bridge. 

"  Now  or  never  !  "  shouted  he,  as  he  leaped  from 
the  rock,  and  ran  with  all  his  might  to  the  bridge. 

The  shrieks  of  the  lady  rang  in  his  ears>  and  seemed 
to  command  him,  with  an  authority  which  he  could  not 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.     17 

resist,  to  stop  the  horse.  There  was  no  time  for  de 
liberation  ;  and,  indeed,  Bobby  did  not  want  any  de 
liberation.  The  lady  was  in  danger ;  if  the  horse's 
flight  was  not  checked,  she  would  be  dashed  in 
pieces  ;  and  what  then  could  excuse  him  for  neglect 
ing  his  duty  ?  Not  the  fear  of  broken  limbs,  of 
mangled  flesh,  or  even  of  a  sudden  and  violent  death. 

It  is  true  Bobby  did  not  think  of  any  of  these 
things  ;  though,  if  he  had,  it  would  have  made  no 
difference  with  him.  He  was  a  boy  who  would  not 
fight  except  in  self-defence,  but  he  had  the  courage 
to  do  a  deed  which  might  have  made  the  stoutest 
heart  tremble  with  terror. 

Grasping  a  broken  rail  as  he  leaped  over  the  fence, 
he  planted  himself  in  the  middle  of  the  bridge,  which 
was  not  more  than  half  as  wide  as  the  road  at  each 
end  of  it,  to  await  the  coming  of  the  furious  animal. 
On  he  came,  and  the  piercing  shrieks  of  the  affrighted 
lady  nerved  him  to  the  performance  of  his  perilous 
duty. 

The  horse  approached  him  at  a  mad  run,  and  his 
feet  struck  the  loose  planks  of  the  bridge.  The  brave 
boy  then  raised  his  big  club,  and  brandished  it  with 
2* 


18  NOW    OE    NEVER  ;    OH, 

all  his  might  in  the  air.  Probably  the  horse  did  not 
mean  any  thing  very  bad ;  was  only  frightened,  and 
had  no  wicked  intentions  towards  the  lady  ;  so  that, 
when  a  new  danger  menaced  him  in  front,  he  stopped 
suddenly,  and  with  so  much  violence  as  to  throw  the 
lady  forward  from  her  seat  upon  the  dasher  of  the 
chaise.  He  gave  a  long  snort,  which  was  his  way  oi 
expressing  his  fear.  He  was  evidently  astonished  at 
the  sudden  barrier  to  his  further  progress,  and  com 
menced  running  back. 

"  Save  me  !  "  screamed  the  lady. 

"  I  will,  ma'am  ;  don't  be  scared  !  "  replied  Bobby, 
confidently,  as  he  dropped  his  club,  and  grasped  the 
bridle  of  the  horse,  just  as  he  was  on  the  point  of 
whirling  round  to  escape  by  the  way  he  had  come. 

"  Stop  him  !     Do  stop  him  !  "  dried  the  lady. 

"  Whoa!  "  said  Bobby,  in  gentle  tones,  as  he  patted 
the  trembling  horse  on  his  neck.  "  Whoa.  goo< 
horse  !  Be  quiet !  Whoa  !  " 

The  animal,  in  his  terror  kept  running  backward 
and  forward;  but  Bobby  persevered  in  his  gentle 
treatment,  and  finally  soothed  him,  so  that  he  stood 
quiet  enough  for  the  lady  to  ge*t  out  of  the  chaise 


THE    ADYENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  19 

"  What  a  miracle  that  I  am  alive!  "  exclaimed  she 
when  she  realized  that  she  stood  once  more  upon  the 
firm  earth. 

"  Yes,  ma'am,  it  is  lucky  he  didn't  break  the  chaise. 
Whoa  !  Good  horse  !  Stand  quiet !  " 

"  What  a  brave  little  fellow  you  are ! "  said  the 
lady,  as  soon  as  she  could  recover  her  breath  so  as  to 
express  her  admiration  of  Bobby's  bold  act. 

"  O,  I  don't  mind  it,"  replied  he,  blushing  like  a 
rose  in  June.  "  Did  he  run  away  with  you  ?  " 

"  No  ;  my  father  left  me  in  the  chaise  for  a  moment 
while  he  went  into  a  store  in  the  village,  and  a  team 
ster  who  was  passing  by  snapped  his  whip,  which 
frightened  Kate  so  that  she  started  off  at  the  top  of 
her  speed.  I  was  so  terrified,  that  I  screamed  with 
all  my  might,  which  frightened  her  the  more.  The 
more  I  screamed,  the  faster  she  ran." 

"  I  dare  say.     Good  horse  !     Whoa,  Kate!  " 

"  She  is  a  splendid  creature ;  she  never  did  such  a 
thing  before.  My  father  will  think  I  am  killed." 

By  this  time.  Kate  had  become  quite  reasonable, 
and  seemed  very  much  obliged  to  Bobby  for  prevent 
ing  her  from  doing  mischief  to  her  mistress  ;  for  she 


20  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;    OR, 

looked  at  the  lady  with  a  glance  of  satisfaction,  which 
her  deliverer  interpreted  as  a  promise  to  behave  better 
in  future.  He  relaxed  his  grasp  upon  the  bridle, 
patted  her  upon  the  neck,  and  said  sundry  pleasant 
things  to  encourage  her  in  her  assumed  purpose  of 
doing  better.  Kate  appeared  to  understand  Bobby's 
kind  words,  and  declared  as  plainly  as  a  horse  could 
declare  that  she  would  be  sober  and  tractable. 

**  Now,  ma'am,  if  you  will  get  into  the  chaise  again, 
I  think  Kate  will  let  me  drive  her  down  to  the  vil- 

lage." 

"  O,  dear  !     I  should  not  dare  to  do  so." 

**  Then,  if  you  please,  I  will  drive  down  alone,  so 
as  to  let  your  father  know  that  you  are  safe." 

"  Do." 

"  I  am  sure  he  must  feel  very  bad,  and  I  may  save 
him  a  greal  deal  of  pain,  for  a  man  can  suffer  a  great 
deal  in  a  very  short  time." 

"  You  are  a  little  philosopher,  as  well  as  a  hero , 
and  if  you  are  not  afraid  of  Kate,  you  may  do  as  you 
wish." 

"  She  seems  very  gentle  now ;  "  and  Bobby  turned 
her  round,  and  got  into  the  chaise. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  2i 

'*  Be  very  careful,"  said  the  lady. 

"  I  will." 

Bobby  took  the  reins,  and  Kate,  true  to  tne  prom 
ise  she  had  virtually  made,  started  off  at  a  round  pace 
towards  the  village. 

He  had  not  gone  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of 
the  distance  when  he  met  a  wagon  containing  three 
men,  one  of  whom  was  the  lady's  father.  The  ges 
tures  which  he  made  assured  Bobby  he  had  found 
the  person  whom  he  sought,  and  he  stopped. 

"  My  daughter !  Where  is  she  :  "  gasped  the  gen 
tleman,  as  he  leaped  from  the  wagon. 

"  She  is  safe,  sir,"  replied  Bobby,  with  all  the 
enthusiasm  of  his  warm  nature. 

"  Thank  God  ! "  added  the  gentleman,  devoutly 
as  he  placed  himself  in  the  jhaise  by  the  side  of 
BoVby. 


22  NOW    OB    NETEB  ;    OB, 


CHAPTER     II. 

IN    WHICH     BOBBY    BLUSHES    SEVEEAIi    1IMES,    AND 
DOES    A    SITM    IN    AEITHMETIC. 

MB.  BATABD,  the  owner  of  the  horse,  and  the 
father  of  the  lady  whom  Bobby  had  saved  from  im 
pending  death,  was  too  much  agitated  to  say  much, 
even  to  the  bold  youth  who  had  rendered  him  such 
a  signal  service.  He  could  scarcely  believe  the  in 
telligence  which  the  boy  brought  him ;  it  seemed  too 
good  to  be  true.  He  had  assured  himself  that  Ellen 
—  for  that  was  the  young  lady's  name  —  was  killed, 
or  dreadfully  injured. 

Kate  was  driven  at  the  top  of  her  speed,  and  in  a 
few  moments  reached  the  bridge,  where  Ellen  was 
awaiting  his  arrival. 

"  Here  I  am,  father,  alive  and  unhurt !  "  cried 
Ellen,  as  Mr.  Bayard  stopped  the  horse. 

"  Thank    Heaven    my  child ! "    replied  the  glad 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.     23 

father,  embracing  his  daughter.  "  I  was  sure  you 
were  killed."  / 

"  No,«  father ;  thanks  to  this  bold  youth,  I  am  un 
injured." 

"  I  am  under  very  great  obligations  to  you,  young 
man,"  continued  Mr.  Bayard,  grasping  Bobby's  hand. 

"  O,  never  mind,  sir;  "  and  Bobby  blushed  just  as 
he  had  blushed  when  the  young  lady  spoke  to  him. 

''  We  shall  never  forget  you  —  shall  we,  father  ?  " 
added  Ellen. 

"  No,  my  child ;  and  I  shall  endeavor  to  repay, 
to  seme  slight  extent,  our  indebtedness  to  him.  But 
you  have  not  yet  told  me  how  you  were  saved." 

"  O,  I  merely  stopped  the  horse  ;  that's  all,"  an 
swered  Bobby,  modestly. 

"  Yes,  father,  but  he  placed  himself  right  before 
Kate  when  she  was  almost  flying  over  the  ground. 
When  I  saw  him,  I  was  certain  that  he  would  lose 
his  life,  or  be  horribly  mangled  for  his  boldness," 
interposed  Ellen. 

"  It  was  a  daring  deed,  young  man,  to  place  your 
self  before  an  affrighted  horse  in  that  manner,"  said 
Mr.  Bayard. 

"  I  didn't  mind  it,  sir." 


24  NOW  OK  NEVEK;    OK, 

"  And  then  he  flourished  a  big  club,  almost  as  big 
as  he  is  himself,  ki  the  air,  which  made  Kate  pause  in 
ber  mad  career,  when  my  deliverer  here  grasped  her 
by  the  bit  and  held  her." 

"  It  was  well  and  bravely  done." 

"  That  it  was,  father ;  not  many  men  would  have 
been  bold  enough  to  do  what  he  did,"  added  Ellen, 
with  enthusiasm. 

"  Very  true  ;  and  I  feel  that  I  am  indebted  to  him 
for  your  safety.  What  is  your  name,  young  man?  " 

"  Robert  Bright,  sir." 

Mr.  Bayard  took  from  his  pocket  several  pieces  of 
gold,  which  he  offered  to  Bobby. 

*'  No,  I  thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Bobby,  blushing. 

"  What !  as  proud  as  you  are  bold  ?  " 

"  I  don't  like  to  be  paid  for  doing  my  duty." 

"  Bravo  !  You  are  a  noble  little  fellow  !  But  you 
must  take  this  money,  not  as  a  reward  for  what  you 
have  done,  but  as  a  testimonial  of  my  gratitude." 

"  I  would  rather  not,  sir." 

"  Do  take  it,  Robert,"  added  Ellen. 

"  I  don't  like  to  take  it.  It  looks  mean  to  tak« 
money  for  do»ug  one's  duty." 


THE    ADVEJfTTTKES    OF    BOBBT    BRIGHT.  '23 

"  Take  it,  Robert,  to  please  me ;  "  and  the  young 
iady  smiled  so  sweetly  that  Bobby's  resolution  began 
to  give  way.  "  Only  to  please  me,  Robert." 

"  I  will,  to'  please  you  ;  but  I  don't  feel  right 
about  it." 

"  You  must  not  be  too  proud,  Robert,"  said  Mr. 
Bayard,  as  he  put  the  gold  pieces  into  his  hand. 

"  I  am  not  proud,  sir ;  only  I  don't  like  to  be  paid 
for  doing  my  duty." 

"  Not  paid,  my  young  friend.  Consider  that  you 
have  placed  me  under  an  obligation  to  you  for  life. 
This  money  is  only  an  expression  of  my  own  and  my 
daughter's  feelings.  It  is  but  a  small  sum,  but  I 
hope  you  will  permit  me  to  do  something  more  for 
you,  when  you  need  it.  You  will  regard  me  as  your 
friend  as  long  as  you  live." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  When  you  want  any  assistance  of  any  kind,  come 
to  me.  I  live  in  Boston ;  here  is  my  business  card." 

Mr.  Bayard  handed  him  a  card,  on  which  Bobby 
read,  "  F.  Bayard  &  Co.,  Booksellers  and  Pub'ishers, 
No.  —  Washington  Street,  Boston." 

**  You  are  very  kind,  sir." 
3 


2G  KOW  OK  NEVER;    OB, 

"  I  want  you  should  come  to  Boston  and  see  as 
too,"  interposed  Ellen.  "I  should  be  delighted  to 
«how  you  the  city,  to  take  you  to  the  Athenaeum  and 
the  Museum." 

"  Thank  you." 

Mr.  Bayard  inquired  of  Bobby  about  his  parents, 
where  he  lived,  and  about  the  circumstances  of  his 
family.  He  then  took  out  his  memorandum  book,  in 
which  he  wrote  the  boy's  name  and  residence. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  leave  you  now,  Hobert,  but  I  have 
over  twenty  miles  to  ride  to-day.  I  should  be  glad 
to  visit  your  mother,  and  next  time  I  come  to  River- 
dale,  I  shall  certainly  do  so." 

"  Thank  you,  sir  ;  my  mother  is  a  very  poor  woman, 
but  she  will  be  glad  to  see  you." 

"  Now,  good  by,  Robert."  « 

"  Good  by,"  repeated  Ellen. 

"  Good  by." 

Mr.  Bayard  drove  off,  leaving  Bobby  standing  on 
the  bridge  with  the  gold  pieces  in  his  hand. 

"Here's  luck!"  said  Bobby,  shaking  the  coin. 
"  Won't  mother's  eyes  stick  out  when  she  sees  these 
shiners  ?  There  are  no  such  shiners  in  the  river 
as  these. 


THE    ADTEXTTTKES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  27 

Bobby  was  astonished,  and  the  more  he  gazed  a 
he  gold  pieces,  the  more  bewildered  he  became.  He 
tad  never  held  so  much  money  in  his  hand  before. 
There  were  three  large  coins  and  one  smaller  one. 
He  turned  them  over  and  over,  and  finally  ascertained 
that  the  large  coins  were  ten  dollar  pieces,  and  the 
smaller  one  a  five  dollar  piece.  Bobby  was  not  a 
great  scholar,  but  he  knew  enough  of  arithmetic  to 
calculate  the  value  of  his  treasure.  He  was  so  excited, 
howevnr,  that  he  did  not  arrive  at  the  conclusion  half 
so  quick  as  most  of  my  young  readers  would  have 
done. 

"  Thirty-five  dollars  !  "  exclaimed  Bobby,  when  the 
problem  was  solved.  "  Gracious  !  " 

"  Hallo,  Bob ! "  shouted  Tom  Spicer,  who  had 
got  tired  of  fishing ;  besides,  the  village  clock  was 
just  striking  twelve,  and  it  was  time  for  him  to  so 
home. 

Bobby  made  no  answer,  but  hastily  tying  the  gold 
pieces  up  in  the  corner  of  his  handkerchief,  ho  threw 
the  broken  rail  he  had  used  in  stopping  the  horss 
where  it  belonged,  and  started  for  the  place  where  h« 
had  left  his  fishing  apparatus. 


28  NOW  OB  NEVER;    OB, 

"Hallo,  Bob!" 

"Well,  Tom?" 

• 

"  Stopped  him  —  didn't  you  ?  " 

"  I  did." 

"  You  were  a  fool ;  he  might  have  killed  you.'* 

"  So  he  might ;  but  I  didn't  stop  to  think  of  that. 
The  lady's  life  was  in  danger." 

"  What  of  that  ?  " 

"  Every  thing,  I  should  say." 

"  Did  he  give  you  any  thing  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  "  and  Bobby  continued  his  walk  down  to 
the  river's  side. 

"  I  say,  what  did  he  give  you,  Bobby  ?  "  persisted 
Tom,  following  him. 

"  O,  he  gave  me  a  good  deal  of  money." 

"  How  much  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  get  my  fish  line  now  ;  I  will  tell  you 
all  about  it  some  other  time,"  replied  Bobby,  who 
rather  suspected  the  intentions  of  his  companion. 

"  Tell  me  now ;  how  much  was  it  ?  " 

"  Never  mind  it  now." 

"  Humph  !     Do  you  think  I  mean  to  rob  yea  ?  *' 

«  No." 


THE    A.DVENTUKES    OF    BOBBY    BEIGHT. 

"  Ain't  you  going  halveses  ?  " 

"  Why  should  I  ?  " 

"  Wasn't  I  with  you  ?  " 

"  Were  you  ?  " 

"  Wasn't  I  fishing  with  you  ?  " 

"  You  did  not  do  any  thing  about  stopping  the 
'noise." 

"  I  would,  if  I  hadn't  been  afraid  to  go  up  to  the 
road." 

"  Afraid  ?  " 

*'  Somebody  might  have  seen  me,  and  they  would 
have  known  that  I  was  hooking  jack." 

"  Then  you  ought  not  to  share  the  money." 

"  Yes,  I  had.  When  a  fellow  is  with  you,  he  ought 
to  have  half.  It  is  mean  not  to  give  him  half." 

"  If  you  had  done  any  thing  to  help  stop  the  horse, 
I  would  have  shared  with  you.  But  you  didn't." 

"What  of  that?" 

Bobby  was  particularly  sensitive  in  regard  to  the 
charge  of  meanness.  His  soul  was  a  great  deal  big 
ger  than  his  body,  and  he  was  always  generous,  even 
to  his  own  injury,  among  his  companions.  It  wag 
evident  to  him  that  Tom  had  no  claim  to  any  part  of 
3* 


50  NOW    OR    XEVEK  ;    OK, 

the  reward ;  but   he  could  not  endure  the  thought 
even  of  heing  accused  of  meanness. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I  will  do,  if  you  think  I  ought 
to  share  with  you.  I  will  leave  it  out  to  Squire  Lee  ; 
and  if  he  thinks  you  ought  to  have  half,  or  any  pari 
of  the  money,  I  will  give  it  to  you." 

"  No,  you  don't ;  you  want  to  get  me  into  a  scrape 
for  hooking  jack.  I  see  what  you  are  up  to." 

"  I  will  state  the  case  to  him  without  telling  him 
who  the  boys  are." 

"No,  you  don't !  You  want  to  be  mean  about  it. 
Come,  hand  over  half  the  money." 

"  I  will  not,"  replied  Bobby,  who,  when  it  became 
a  matter  of  compulsion,  could  stand  his  ground  at 
any  peril. 

*'  How  much  have  you  got  ?  " 

••  Thirty-five  dollars." 

"  By  jolly  !     And  you  mean  to  keep  it  all  your 
gelf ?  " 

"  I  mean  to  give  it  to  my  mother." 

;'  Xo,  you  won't !  If  you  are  going  to  be  mean 
about  it,  I'll  smash  your  head  !  " 

This  was  a  favorite  expression  with  Tom   Spicer 


THE    A.BVEXTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  31 

who  was  a  noted  bully  among  the  boys  of  Riverdulo. 
The  young  ruffian  now  placed  himself  in  front  of 
Bobby,  and  shook  his  clinched  fist  in  his  face. 

"  Hand  over." 

"  No,  I  won't.  You  have  no  claim  to  any  part  of 
the  money  ;  at  least,  I  think  you  have  not.  If  you 
have  a  mind  to  leave  it  out  to  Squire  Lee,  I  will  do 
•vhat  is  right  about  it." 

"  Not  I ;  hand  over,  or  I'll  smash  your  head  ! " 

"  Smash  away,"  replied  Bobby,  placing  himself  on 
the  defensive. 

"  Do  jo\i  think  you  can  lick  me  ?  "  asked  Tom,  not 
a  little  embarrassed  by  this  exhibition  of  resolution 
on  the  part  of  his  companion. 

"  I  don't  think  any  thing  about  it ;  but  you  don'l 
bully  me  in  that  kind  of  style." 

"Won't  I?" 

"  No." 

But  Tom  did  not  immediately  put  his  threat  in 
execution,  and  Bobby  would  not  be  the  aggressor  ;  so 
he  stepped  one  side  to  pass  his  assailant.  Tom  took 
this  as  an  evidence  of  the  other's  desire  to  escape,  and 
struck  him  a  heavy  blow  on  the  side  of  the  head 


32  NOW  OR  NETEB;  OK, 

The  next  instant  the  bully  was  floundering  in  the 
soft  mud  of  a  ditch ;  Bobhy's  reply  was  more  than 
Tom  had  bargained  <br,  and  while  he  was  dragging 
himself  out  of  the  ditch,  our  hero  ran  down  to  the 
river,  and  got  his  fish  pole  and  basket. 

"  You'll  catch  it  for  that !  "  growled  Tom. 

"  I'm  all  ready,  whenever  it  suits  your  conven 
ience,"  replied  Bobby. 

•*  Just  come  out  here  and  take  it  in  fair  fight,"  con 
tinued  Tom,  who  could  not  help  bullying,  even  in 
the  midst  of  his  misfortune. 

*•  No,  I  thank  you ;  I  don't  want  to  fight  with  any 
fellow.  I  will  not  fight  if  I  can  help  it." 

"  What  did  you  hit  me  for,  then? " 

*'  In  self-defence." 

**  Just  come  out  here,  and  try  it  fair  ?  " 

"  No ;  "  and  Bobby  hurried  home,  leaving  the 
bully  astonished  and  discomfited  by  the  winding  up 
of  the  morning's  sport. 


THE   ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  33 


CHAPTER    III. 

IN    WHICH    THE    IITTLE    BLACK    HOUSE    IS    BOUGH! 
BUT    NOT    PAID    FOR. 

PROBABLY  my  young  readers  have  by  this  time 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  Bobby  Bright  was  a  very 
clever  fellow  —  one  whose  acquaintance  they  would  be 
happy  to  cultivate.  Perhaps  by  this  time  they  have 
become  so  far  interested  in  him  as  to  desire  to  know 
who  his  parents  were,  what  they  did,  and  in  what 
kind  of  a  house  he  lived. 

I  hope  none  of  my  young  friends  will  think  any  less 
of  him  when  I  inform  them  that  Bobby  lived  in  an  old 
black  house  which  had  never  been  painted,  which  had 
no  flower  garden  in  front  of  it,  and  which,  in  a  word, 
was  quite  far  from  being  a  palace.  A  great  many  very 
nice  city  folks  would  not  have  considered  it  fit  to  live 
in,  would  have  turned  up  their  noses  at  it,  and  wondered 
that  any  human  beings  could  be  so  degraded  as  to  live 


34  NOW    OK    NEVER  ;    OR, 

in  *  ach  a  miserable  house.  But  the  widow  Bi  ight,  Bob 
by's  mother,  thought  it  was  a  very  comfortable  house, 
and  considered  herself  very  fortunate  in  being  able  to 
get  so  good  a  dwelling.  She  had  never  lived  in  a  fine 
house,  knew  nothing  about  velvet  carpets,  minors 
seven  feet  high,  damask  chairs  and  lounges,  or  any  of 
the  smart  things  which  very  rich  and  very  proud  city 
people  consider  absolutely  necessary  for  their  com 
fort.  Her  father  had  been  a  poor  man,  her  husband 
had  died  a  poor  man,  and  her  own  life  had  been  a 
struggle  to  keep  the  demons  of  poverty  and  want  from 
invading  her  humble  abode. 

Mr.  Bright,  her  deceased  husband,  had  been  a  day 
laborer  in  Riverdale.  He  never  got  more  than  a  dol 
lar  a  day,  which  was  then  considered  very  good  wages 
in  the  country.  He  was  a  very  honest,  industrious 
man,  and  while  he  lived,  his  family  did  very  well. 
Mrs.  Bright  was  a  careful,  prudent  woman,  and  helped 
him  support  the  family.  They  never  knew  what  it 
v  M  to  want  for  any  thing. 

Poor  people,  as  well  as  rich,  have*  an  ambition  to  be 
something  which  they  are  not,  or  to  have  something 
which  they  have  not.  Every  person,  who  has  un? 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBB  T    BKiqilT.  85 

energy  of  character,  desires  to  get  ahead  in  the  world. 
Some  merchants,  who  own  big  ships  and  big  ware 
houses  by  the  dozen,  desire  to  be  what  they  considei 
rich.  But  their  idea  of  wealth  is  very  grand.  They 
wish  to  count  it  in  millions  of  dollars,  in  whole  blocks 
of  warehouses ;  and  they  are  even  more  discontented 
than  the  day  laborer  who  has  to  earn  his  dinner  be 
fore  he  can  .eat  it. 

Bobby's  father  and  mother  had  just  such  an  amli- 
tion,  only  it  was  so  modest  that  the  merchant  would 
have  laughed  at  it.  They  wanted  to  own  the  little 
black  house  in  which  they  resided,  so  that  they  could 
not  only  be  sure  of  a  home  while  they  lived,  but 
have  the  satisfaction  of  living  in  their  own  house. 
This  was  a  very  reasonable  ideal,  compared  with  that 
of  the  rich  merchants  I  have  mentioned  ;  but  it  was 
even  more  difficult  for  them  to  reach  it,  for  the  wages 
were  small,  and  they  had  many  mouths  to  feed. 

Mr.  Bright  had  saved  up  fifty  dollars  ;  and  he 
thought  a  great  deal  more  of  this  sum  than  many  peo 
ple  do  of  a  thousand  dollars.  He  had  had  to  work 
very  hard  and  be  very  prudent  in  order  to  accumulate 
this  sura,  which  made  him  value  it  all  the  more  highly, 


£6  NOW  OR  NEVER;  OR, 

With  this  sum  of  fifty  dollars  at  his  command,  John 
Bright  felt  rich ;  and  then,  more  than  ever  before,  he 
wanted  to  own  the  little  black  house.  He  felt  as 
grand  as  a  lord  ;  and  as  soon  as  ithe  forty-nine  dollars 
had  become  fifty,  he  waited  upon  Mr.  Hardhand,  & 
little  crusty  old  man,  who  owned  the  little  black  house, 
and  proposed  to  purchase  it. 

The  landlord  was  a  hard  man.  Every  body  in  Riv- 
erdale  said  he  was  mean  and  stingy.  Any  generous- 
hearted  man  would  have  been  willing  to  make  an  easy 
bargain  with  an  honest,  industrious,  poor  man,  like 
John  Bright,  who  wished  to  own  the  house  in  which 
he  lived ;  but  Mr.  Hardhand,  although  he  was  rich, 
only  thought  how  he  could  make  more  money.  He 
asked  the  poor  man  four  hundred  dollars  for  the  old 
house  and  the  little  lot  of  land  on  which  it  stood. 

It  was  a  matter  of  great  concern  to  John  Bright. 
Four  hundred  dollars  was  a  "  mint  of  money,"  and 
he  could  not  «ee  how  he  should  ever  be  able  to  save 
BO  much  from  his  daily  earnings.  So  he  talked  with 
Squire  Lee  about  it,  who  told  him  that  three  hundred 
was  all  it  was  worth.  John  offered  this  for  it,  and 
after  a  month's  hesitation,  Mr,  Hardhand  accepted  th 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BEIGHT.     37 

offer,  agreeing  to  take  fifty  dollars  down,  and  the  rest 
in  semi-annual  payments  of  twenty-five  dollars  each, 
until  the  whole  was  paid. 

I  am  thus  particular  in  telling  my  readers  about 
the  bargain,  because  this  debt  which  his  father  con 
tracted  was  th&  means  of  making  a  man  of  Bobby,  as 
will  be  seen  in  his  subsequent  history. 

John  Bright  paid  the  first  fifty  dollars  ;  but  before 
the  next  instalment  became  due,  the  poor  man  was 
laid  in  his  cold  and  silent  grave.  A  malignant  disease 
carried  him  off,  and  the  hopes  of  the  Bright  family 
seemed  to  be  blasted. 

Four  children  were  left  to  the  widow.  The  young 
est  was  only  three  years  old,  and  Bobby,  the  oldest, 
was  nine,  when  his  father  died.  Squire  Lee,  who  had 
always  been  a  good  friend  of  John  Bright,  told  the 
widow  that  she  had  better  go  to  the  poorhouse,  and 
not  attempt  to  struggle  along  with  such  a  fearful  odds 
against  her.  But  the  widow  nobly  refused  to  become 
a  pauper,  and  to  make  paupers  of  her  children,  whom 
she  loved  quite  as  much  as  though  she  and  they  had 
been  born  in  a  ducal  palace.  She  told  the  squire 
that  she  had  two  hands,  and  as  long  as  she  had  hei 
4 


38  NOW    OR    XEVER  ;     OR, 

health,  the  town  need  not  trouble  itself  about  her  sup 
port. 

Squire  Lee  was  filled  with  surprise  and  admiration 
at  the  noble  resolution  of  the  poor  woman  ;  and  when 
he  returned  to  his  house,  he  immediately  sent  her  a 
cord  of  wood,  ten  bushels  of  potatoes,  two  bags  of 
meal,  and  a  firkin  of  salt  pork. 

The  widow  was  very  grateful  for  these  articles,  and 
no  false  pride  prevented  her  from  accepting  the  gift 
of  her  rich  and  kind-heartsd  neighbor. 
"  Riverdale  centre  was  largely  engaged  in  the  manu 
facturing  of  boots  and  shoes,  and  this  business  gave 
employment  to  a  large  number  of  men  and  women. 

Mrs.  Bright  had  for  several  years  "  closed  "  shoes 
—  which,  my  readers  who  do  not  live  in  "  shoe  towns  " 
may  not  know,  means  sewing  or  stitching  them.  To 
this  business  she  applied  herself  with  renewed  energy. 
There  was  a  large  hotel  in  Riverdale  centre,  where 
several  families  from  Boston  spent  the  summer.  By 
the  aid  of  Squire  Lee,  she  obtained  the  washing  of 
these  families,  which  was  more  profitable  than  closing 
shoes. 

By  these  means  she  not  only  supported  her  familj 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    UOBBY    BRIGHT.  39 

very  comfortably,  but  was  able  to  save  a  little  money 
towards  paying  for  the  house.  Mr.  Hardhand,  by  t'ne 
persiiasions  of  Squire  Lee,  had  consented  to  let  the 
widow  keep  the  house,  and  pay  for  it  as  she  could. 

John  Bright  had  been  dead  four  years  at  the  time 
we  introduce  Bobby  to  the  reader.  Mrs.  Bright  had 
paid  another  hundred  dollars  towards  the  house,  with 
the  interest ;  so  there  was  now  but  one  hundred  due 
Bobby  had  learned  to  "  close,"  and  helped  his  mother 
a  great  deal ;  but  the  confinement  and  the  stooping 
posture  did  not  agree  with  his  health,  and  his  mother 
was  obliged  to  dispense  with  his  assistance.  But  the 
devoted  little  fellow  found  a  great  many  ways  of  help 
ing  her.  He  was  now  thirteen,  and  was  as  handy 
about  the  house  .as  a  girl.  When  he  was  not  better 
occupied,  he  would  often  go  to  the  river  and  catch  a 
mess  of  fish,  which  was  so  much  clear  gain. 

The  winter  which  had  just  passed  had  brought  a 
great  deal  of  sickness  to  the  little  black  house.  The 
children  all  had  the  measles,  and  two  of  them  the 
scarlet  fever,  so  that  Mrs.  Bright  could  not  work  much. 
Her  affairs  were  not  in  a  very  prosperous  condition 
when  the  spring  opened ;  but  the  future  was  bright, 


40  NO\\    OR  NEVER;  OE, 

and  the  widow,  trusting  in  Providence,  believed  that 
all  would  end  well. 

One  thing  troubled  her.  She  had  not  been  able  to 
save  any  thing  for  Mr.  Hardhand.  She  could  only 
pay  her  interest;  but  she  hoped  by  the  first  of  July 
to  give  him  twenty-five  dollars  of  the  principal.  But 
the  first  of  July  came,  and  she  had  only  five  dollars 
of  the  sum  she  had  partly  promised  her  creditor.  She 
could  not  so  easily  recover  from  the  disasters  of  the 
hard  winter,  and  she  had  but  just  paid  off  the  little 
debts  she  had  contracted.  She  was  nervous  and  un 
easy  as  the  day  approached.  Mr.  Havdhand  always 
abused  her  when  she  told  him  she  could  not  pay  him, 
and  she  dreaded  his  coming. 

It  was  the  first  of  July  on  which  Bobby  caught 
those  pouts,  caught  the  horse,  and  on  which  Tom 
Spicer  had  "  caught  a  Tartar." 

Bobby  hastened  home,  as  we  said  at  the  conclusion 
of  the  last  chapter.  He  was  as  happy  as  a  lord.  He 
had  fish  enough  in  his  basket  for  dinner,  and  for  break 
fast  the  next  morning,  and  money  enough  in  his  pock 
et  to  make  his  mother  as  happy  as  a  queen,  if  qtujens 
are  alwpys  happy. 


TH3   ADV'EXTURES    OF    BOBBY    BllIGHT.  41 

The  widow  Bright,  though  she  had  worried  and 
fretted  night  and  day  about  the  money  which  was  tc 
be  paid  to  Mr.  Hardhand  on  the  first  of  July,  had  not 
told  her  son  any  thing  about  it.  It  would  only  make 
him  unhappy,  she  reasoned,  and  it  was  needless  to 
make  the  dear  boy  miserable  for  nothing  ;  so  Bobby 
ran  home  all  unconscious  of  the  pleasure  which  was 
in  store  for  him. 

When  he  reached  the  front  door,  it  he  stopped  to 
scrape  his  feet  on  the  sharp  stone  there,  as  all  con 
siderate  boys  who  love  their  mothers  do,  before  they 
go  into  the  house,  he  heard  the  angry  tones  of  Mr. 
Hardhand.  He  was  scolding  and  abusing  his  mother 
because  she  could  not  pay  him  the  twenty-five  dol 
lars. 

Bobby's  blood  boiled  with  indignation,  and  his 
first  impulse  was  to  serve  him  as  he  had  served  Tc  m 
Spicer,  only  a  lew  moments  before ;  but  Bobby,  as 

we  have  before   intimated,  was  a  peaceful  boy,   »nd 

f 

not    disposeil    to     quarrel     with    any    person ;      so 

he    contented    himself  with   muttering    a    few    L  .rd 
words. 

"  The  wretch  !  What  business  has  he  to  talh  u  m$ 
4* 


42  NOW  OR  NEVEB;  OK, 

mother  in  that  style  ?  "  said  he  to  himself.  "  1  hav«> 
a  great  mind  to  kick  him  out  of  the  house." 

But  Bobhy's  better  judgment  came  to  his  aid  ;  and 
perhaps  he  realized  that  he  and  his  mother  would 
only  get  kicked  out  in  return.  He  could  battle  with 
Mr.  Hardhand,  but  not  with  the  power  which  hia 
wealth  gave  him  ;  so,  like  a  great  many  older  persona 
in  similar  circumstances,  he  took  counsel  of  prudence 
rather  than  impulse. 

"  Bear  ye.  one  another's  burdens,"  saith  the  Scrip 
ture  ;  but  Bobby  was  not  old  enough  or  astute  enough 
to  realize  that  Mr.  Hardhand's  burden  was  his  wealth, 
his  love  of  money ;  that  it  made  him  little  better  than 
a  Hottentot;  and  he  could  not  feel  as  charitably 
towards  him  as  a  Christian  should  towards  his  erring, 
weak  brother. 

Setting  his  pole  by  the  door,  he  entered  the  room 
w'aere  Hardhand  was  abusing  his  mother. 


THE    A.DVKT*TtIRES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT  43 


CHAPTER    IV. 

IN    WHICH    BOBBY    GETS    OUT    OF    OXE    SCRAPE,  A.NB 
INTO    ANOTHEH. 

BOBBY  was  so  indignant  at  the  conduct  of  Mr 
Hardhand,  that  he  entirely  forgot  the  adventure  of 
the  morning ;  and  he  did  not  even  think  of  the  gold 
he  had  in  his  pocket.  He  loved  his  mother ;  he 
knew  how  hard  she  had  worked  for  him  and  his  broth 
er  and  sisters  ;  that  she  had  burned  the  "  midnight 
oil "  at  her  clamps  ;  and  it  made  him  feel  very  bad  tc 
hear  her  abused  as  Mr.  Hardhand  was  abusing  her. 
It  was  not  her  fault  that  she  had  not  the  money  to 
pay  him.  She  had  been  obliged  to  spend  a  large 
portion  of  her  time  over  the  sick  beds  of  her  children, 
BO  that  she  could  not  earn  so  much  money  as  usual ; 
while  the  family  expenses  were  necessarily  much 
greater. 

Bobby  knewalsi  that  Mr.  Hardhand  was  aware  of 


*4  NOW    Oil  -NEVER  ;    OR, 

.11  the  circumstances  of  his  mother's  position ;  and 
the  more  he  considered  the  case  the  more  brutal  and 
inhuman  was  his  course. 

As  our  hero  entered  the  family  room  with  the  bas 
ket  of  fish  on  his  arm,  the  little  crusty  old  man  fixed 
the  glance  of  his  evil  eye  upon  him. 

*'  There  is  that  boy,  marm,  idling  away  his  time 
by  the  river,  and  eating  you  out  of  house  and  home," 
said  the  wretch.  "  Why  don't  you  set  him  to  work, 
and  make  him  earn  something  ?  " 

"  Bobby  is  a  very  good  boy,"  meekly  responded 
the  widow  Bright.  . 

"  Humph !  I  should  think  he  was.  A  great  lazy 
lubber  like  him,  living  on  his  mother ! "  and  Mr. 
Hardhand  looked  contemptuously  at  Bobby. 

"  I  am  not  a  lazy  lubber,"  int^rnosed  the  insulted 
boy  with  spirit. 

"  Yes,  you  are.     Why  don't  you  go  to  work  ?  " 

"  I  do  work.'' 

"  No,  you  don't ;  you  waste  your  time  paddling  k 
the  river." 

"  I  don't." 

'•  You  had  better  teach  this  boy  raannuis  toe,  marm,' 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF  'BOBBY    BRIGHT.  45 

said  the  creditor,  who,  like  all  men  of  small  souls,  was 
willing  to  take  advantage  of  the  power  which  the 
widow's  indebtedness  gave  him.  "  He  is  saucy." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  who  taught  yon  manners, 
Mr.  Hardhand,"  replied  Bobby,  whose  indignation 
was  rapidly  getting  the  better  of  his  discretion. 

"  What !  "  growled  Mr.  Hardhand,  aghast  at  this 
"nwonted  boldness. 

"  I  heard  what  you  said  before  I  came  in ;  and  no 
decent  man  would  go  to  the  house  of  a  poor  woman 
to  insult  her." 

"  Humph !  Mighty  fine,"  snarled  the  little  old 
man,  his  gray  eyes  twinkling  with  malice. 

•*  Don't  Bobby  ;  don't  be  saucy  to  the,  gentleman," 
interposed  his  mother. 

"  Saucy,  marm  ?     You  ought  to  horsewhip  him  for 

it.     If  you  don't,  I  will." 

» 
"No,  you  won't!"    replied    Bobby,   shaking   his 

head  significantly.     "  1  can  take  care  of  myself." 
"  Did  any  one  ever  hear  such  impudence  !  "  gasped 

Mr.  Hardhand. 

"  Don't,     Bobby,     don't,'1     pleaded     the     ansioua 

another. 


*6  NOW    Oft    NEVER  ;    OB, 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  right  you  ha^e  to 
come  here  and  abuse  my  mother,"  continued  Bobby, 
who  could  not  restrain  his  anger. 

"  Your  mother  owes  me  money,  and  she  don't  pay 
it,  you  young  scoundrel ! "  answered  Mr.  Hardhand, 
'  foaming  with  rage. 

"  That  is  no  reason  why  you  should  insult  Her. 
You  can  call  me  what  you  please,  but  you  shall  not 
insult  my  mother  while  I'm  round." 

*'  Your  mother  is  a  miserable  woman,  and " 

"  Say  that  again,  and  though  you  are  an  old  man, 
I'll  hit  you  for  it.  I'm  big  enough  to  protect  my 
mother,  and  111  do  it." 

Bobby  doubled  up  his  fists  and  edged  up  to  Mr. 
Hardhand,  fully  determined  to  execute  his  threat  if 
he  repeated  the  offensive  expression,  or  any  other  of  a 
similar  import.  He  was  roused  to  the  highest  pitch 
of  anger,  and  felt  as  though  he  had  just  as  lief  die  as 
live  in  defence  of  his  mother's  good  name. 

I  am  not  sure  that  I  could  excuse  Bobby's  violence 
under  any  other  circumstances.  He  loved  his  moth 
er  —  as  the  novelists  would  say,  he  idolized  her ; 
and  Mr.  Hardhand  had  certainly  applied  some  very 


IHE    ADVENTURES    Off    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  47 

offensive  epithets  to  her —  epithets  which  no  good  son 
could  calmly  hear  applied  to  a  mother.  Besides,  Bob 
by,  though  his  heart  was  a  large  one,  and  was  in  the 
right  place,  had  never  been  educated  into  those  nice 
distinctions  of  moral  right  and  wrong  which  control 
the  judgment  of  wise  and  learned  men.  He  had  an 
idea  that  violence,  resistance  with  blows,  was  allow 
able  in  certain  extreme  cases  ;  and  he  could  conceive 
of  no  greater  provocation  than  an  insult  to  his 
mother. 

"•  Be  calm,  Bobby ;  you  are  in  a  passion,"  said 
Mrs.  Bright. 

"  I  am  surprised,  marm,"  began  Mr.  Hardhand, 
who  prudently  refrained  from  repeating  the  offensive 
language  —  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  was  surprised ; 
for  he  looked  both  astonished  and  alarmed.  "  This 
boy  has  a  most  ungovernable  temper." 

"  Don't  you  worry  about  my  temper,  Mr.  Hard- 
hand;  I'll  take  care  of  myself.  All  I  want  of  you  it> 
not  to  insult  my  mother.  You  may  say  what  you 
like  to  me ;  but  don't  you  call  her  hard  names." 

Mr.  Hardhand,  like  all  mean,  little  men,  WHS  a 
do  ward;  and  he  was  effectually  intimidated  b>  ti»« 


48  now  OE  NEVEK;  OH, 

* 

bold  and  manly  conduct  of  the  boy.  He  changed  hia 
tone  and  manner  at  once. 

"  You  have  no  money  for  me,  marm  ?  "  said  he, 
edging  towards  the  door. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  have  been  able 
to  save  only  five  dollars  since  I  paid  you  last ;  but  I 
hope " 

"  Never  mind,  marm,  never  mind ;  I  shall  not 
trouble  myself  to  come  here  again,  where  I  am  liable 
to  be  kicked  by  this  ill-bred  cub.  '  No,  marm,  I  shall 
not  come  again.  Let  the  law  take  its  course." 

"  O,  mercy  !  See  what  you  have  brought  upon  us, 
Bobby,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Bright,  bursting  into  tears. 

"  Yes,  marm,  let  the  law  take  its  course." 

"  O  Bobby !  Stop  a  moment,  Mr.  Hardhand ;  do 
stop  a  moment." 

"  Not  a  moment,  marm.  We'll  see  ;  "  and  Mr. 
Hardhand  placed  his  hand  upon  the  latch  string. 

Bobby  felt  very  uneasy,  and  very  unhappy  at  that 
moment.  His  passion  had  subsided,  and  he  realized 
chat  he  had  done  a  great  deal  of  mischief  by  his  im 
petuous  conduct. 

Then  the  remembrance  of  his  morning  adventure 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BC  BBT    BRIGHT  49 

on  the  bridge  came  like  a  flash  of  sunshine  to  his 
/nine!,  and  he  eagerly  drew  from  his  pocket  the  hand 
kerchief  in  which  he  had  deposited  the  precious  gold, 
— -  doubly  precious  now,  because  it  would  enable  him 
to  retrieve  the  error  into  which  he  had  fallen,  and  do 
something  towards  relieving  his  mother's  embarrass 
ment.  With  a  trembling  hand  he  untied  the  knot 
which  secured  the  money. 

"  Here,  mother,  here  is  thirty-five  dollars ;  "  and 
he  placed  it  in  her  hand. 

''  Why,  Bobby  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Bright. 

''  Pay  him,  mother,  pay  him,  and  I  will  tell  you 
all  about  it  by  and  by." 

"  Thirty-five  dollars  !  and  all  in  gold !  Where  did 
you  get  it,  Bobby  ?  " 

"  Never  mind  it  now,  mother." 

Mr.  Hardhand's  covetous  soul  had  already  grasped 

4 

the  glittei  ;.ng  gold  ;  and  removing  his  hand  from  the 
latch  string,  he  approached  the  widow. 

"  I  shall  be  able  to  pay  you  forty  dollars  now,"  said 
Mrs.  Bright,  taking  the  five  dollars  she  had  sa^ed 
from  her  pocket- 

**  Yns,  marm." 
5 


50  NOW    OK    XliVEJtt;      OK, 

Mr.  Hardhand  took  the  money,  and  seating  Lirnseli 
&t  the  table,  indorsed  the  amount  on  the  back  of  the 
note. 

"  You  owe  me  sixty  more,"  said  he,  maliciously,  as 
he  returned  the  note  to  his  pocket  book.  "  It  must 
be  paid  immediately." 

"  You  must  not  be  hard  with  me  now,  when  I  have 
paid  more  than  you  demanded.*' 

"  I  don't  wish  to  come  here  again.  That  boy's 
impudence  has  put  me  all  out  of  conceit  with  you  and 
your  family,"  replied  Mr.  Hardhand,  assuming  the 
most  benevolent  look  he  could  command.  "  There 
was  a  time  when  I  was  very  willing  to  help  you.  I 
have  waited  a  great  while  for  my  pay  for  this  house ; 
a  great  deal  longer  than  I  would  have  waited  for  any 
body  else." 

"  Your  interest  has  always  been  paid  punctually,' 
suggested  the  widow,  modestly. 

"  That's  true ;  but  very  few  people  would  have 
waited  as  long  as  I  have  for  the  principal.  I  wanted 
to  help  you " 

"  By  gracious !  "  exclaimed  Bobby,  interrupting 
mm. 


THE    1DVEJVTUKES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  51 

'  Don't  be  saucy,  my  son,  don't,"  said  Mrs.  Bright, 
fearing  a  repetition  of  the  former  scene. 

"  He  wanted  to  help  us  !  "  ejaculated  Bobby. 

I*  vas  a  very  absurd  and  hypocritical  expression 
on  the  part  of  Mr.  Hardhand ;  for  he  never  wanted 
to  help  any  one  but  himself;  and  during  the  whole 
period  of  his  relations  with  the  poor  widow,  he  had 
oppressed,  insulted,  and  abused  her  to  fche  extent  of 
his  capacity,  or  at  least  as  far  as  his  interest  would 
permit. 

He  was  a  malicious  and  revengeful  man.  He  did 
not  consider  the  great  provocation  he  had  given  Bob 
by  for  his  violent  conduct,  but  determined  to  be  re 
venged,  if  it  could  be  accomplished  without  losing 
any  part  of  the  sixty  dollars  still  due  him.  He  was  a 
wicked  man  at  heart,  and  would  not  scruple  to  tun? 
the  widow  and  her  family  out  of  house  and  home. 

Mrs.  Bright  knew  this,  and  Bobby  knew  it  too  ; 
and  they  felt  very  uneasy  about  it.  The  wretch  still 
had  the  power  to  injure  them,  and  he  would  use  it 
without  compunction. 

"  Yes,  young  man,  I  wanted  to  help  you,  and  you 
Bee  what  I  get  for  it —  contempt  and  insults!  You 


52  NOW    OK    NEVEB  J    OH, 

will  heai  from  me  again  in  a  day  or  two.  Pet 
b-.ps  you  will  change  your  tune,  you  young  repro 
bate  ! " 

"  Perhaps  I  shall,"  replied  Bobby,  without  much 
iiscretion. 

"•  And  you  too,  marm  ;  you  uphold  him  in  his  treat 
ment  of  me.  You  have  not  done  your  duty  to  him. 
You  have  been  remiss,  marm  !  "  continued  Mr.  Hard- 
hand,  growing  bolder  again,  as  he  felt  the  power  he 
wielded. 

"  That  will  do,  sir ;  you  can  go  !  "  said  Bobby, 
springing  from  his  chair,  and  approaching  Mr.  Hard- 
hand.  "  Go,  and  do  your  worst !  " 

"  Humph  !  you  stump  me  —  do  you  ?  " 

"  I  would  rather  see  my  mother  kicked  out  of  the 
house  than  insulted  by  such  a  dried-up  old  curmud 
geon  as  you  are.  Go  along  !  " 

"  Now,  don't,  Bobby,"  pleaded  his  mother. 

"  I  am  going ;  and  if  the  money  is  not  paid  by 
twelve  o'clock  to-morrow,  the  law  shall  take  its 
course  ;  "  and  Mr.  Hardhand  rushed  out  of  the  house, 
'slamming  the  door  violently  after  him. 

'•  O    Bobby,    what   have    you    done?"    exclaimed 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF     BOBBY    U RIGHT.  53 

Mrs.  Bright,   when    the    hard-hearted    creditor    had 
deputed. 

"  I  could  not  help  it,  mother  ;  don't  cry.  I  cannot 
bear  to  hear  you  insulted  and  abused ;  and  I  thought 
when  I  heard  him  do  it  a  year  ago,  that  I  couldn't 
ptand  it  again.  It  is  too  bad." 

"  But  he  will  turn  us  out  of  the  house  ;  and  what 
shall  we  do  then  ?  " 

"  Don't  cry,  mother ;  it  will  come  round  all  right. 
I  have  friends  who  are  rich  and  powerful,  and  who 
will  help  us." 

"  You  don't  know  what  you  say,  Bobby.  Sixty 
dollars  is  a  great  deal  of  money,  and  if  we  should  sell 
all  we  have,  it  would  scarcely  bring  that." 

"  Leave  it  all  to  me,  mother ;  I  feel  as  though  I 
could  do  something  now.  I  am  old  enough  to  make 
money." 

"  What  can  you  do  ?  " 

"  Now   or    never ! "    replied   Bobby,    whose    mind 
had  wandered  from  the  scene  to  the  busy  world,  where 
fortunes  are    made   and    lost  every  day.     "  Now  01 
never  !  "  muttered  he  again. 
5* 


64  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;    OR, 

"  But  Bobby,  you  have  not  told  me  where  you  got 
all  rhat  gold." 

"  Dinner  is  ready,  I  see,  and  I  will  tell  you  while 
we  eat." 

Bobby  had  been  a  fishing,  and  to  be  hungry  is  » 
part  of  the  fisherman's  luck ;  so  he  seated  himself  at 
the  table,  and  gave  his  mother  a  full  account  of  all 
that  had  occurred  at  the  bridge. 

•  The  fond  mother  trembled  when  she  realized  the 
peril  her  son  had  incurred  for  the  sake  of  the  young 
lady  ;  but  her  maternal  heart  swelled  with  admiration 
in  view  of  the  generous  deed,  and  she  thanked  God 
that  she  was  the  mother  of  such  a  son.  She  felt 
more  confidence  in  him  then  than  she  had  ever  felt 
before,  and  she  realized  that  he  would  be  the  stay 
and  the  staff  of  her  declining  years. 

Bobby  finished  his  dinner,  and  seated  himself  on  the 
front  door  step.  His  mind  was  absorbed  by  a  new 
and  brilliant  idea ;  and  for  half  an  hour  he  kept  up  a 
most  tremendous  thinking. 

"  Now  or  never ! "  said  he,  as  he  rose  ind  walked 
down  he  road  towards  Riverdale  Centre. 


THE  ATWENTl'RES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.     &O 


CHAPTER     V. 

IN    WHICH     BOBBY     GIVES     HIS     NOTE     FOB     SIXTl 
DOLLARS. 

A  GREAT  idea  was  born  in  Bobby's  brain.  His 
mother's  weakness  and  the  insecurity  of  her  position 
were  more  apparent  to  him  than  they  had  ever  been 
before.  She  was  in  the  power  of  her  creditor,  who 
might  turn  her  out  of  the  little  black  house,  sell  the 
place  at  auction,  and  thus,  perhaps,  deprive  her  of  the 
whole  or  a  large  part  of  his  father's  and  her  own  hard 
Earnings. 

But  this  was  not  the  peculiar  hardship  of  her  sit 
uation,  as  her  devoted  son  understood  it.  It  was  not 
the  hard  work  alone  which  she  was  called  upon  to 
perform,  not  the  coarseness  of  the  fare  upon  which 
they  lived,  not  the  danger  even  of  being  turned  out 
of  doors,  that  distressed  Bobby;  it  was  that  a  wretch 
like  Mr.  Hardhand  could  insist  and  trample  upon  his 


66  NOW    OK    KEVEK  ;     OH. 

mother.  He  had  just  heard  him  use  language  to  hei 
that  made  his  blood  boil  with  indignation,  and  he  did 
not,  on  cool,  sober,  second  thought,  regret  that  lie 
had  taken  such  a  decided  stand  against  it. 

He  cared  not  for  himself.  He  could  live  on  a  crust 
of  bread  and  a  cup  of  water  from  the  spring ;  he 
could  sleep  in  a  barn ;  he  could  wear  coarse  and  even 
ragged  clothes ;  but  he  could  not  submit  to  have  his 
mother  insulted,  and  by  such  a  mean  and  contempti 
ble  person  as  Mr.  Hardhand.  i 

Yet  what  could  he  do  ?  He  was  but  a  boy,  and 
the  great  world  would  look  with  contempt  upon  his 
puny  form.  But  he  felt  that  he  was  not  altogether 
insignificant.  He  had  performed  an  act,  that  day, 
which  the  fair  young  lady,  to  whom  he  had  rendered 
the  service,  had  declared  very  few  men  would  have 
undertaken.  There  was  something  in  him,  some 
thing  that  would  come  out,  if  he  only  put  his  best 
foot  forward.  It  was  a  tower  of  strength  within  him. 
It  told  him  that  he  could  do  wonders ;  that  he  could 
go  out  into  the  world  and  accomplish  all  that  would 
be  required  to  free  his  mother  from  debt,  and  rel.sve 
Her  from  the  severe  drudgery  of  her  life. 


THE  ADVENTURES  OB'  BOBBY  BRIGHT.     /»! 

A  great  many  people  think  they  can  *'  do  wonders." 
The  vanity  of  some  very  silly  people  makes  them 
think  they  can  command  armies,  govern  nations,  and 
teach  the  world  what  the  world  never  knew  before, 
and  neTrer  would  know  but  for  them.  But  Bobby's 
something  within  him  was  not  vanity.  It  was  some 
thing  more  substantial.  He  was  not  thinking  of  be 
coming  a  great  man,  a  great  general,  a  great  ruler,  or 
a  great  statesman ;  not  even  of  making  a  great  for 
tune.  Self  was  not  the  idol  and  the  end  of  his 
calculations.  He  was  thinking  of  his  mother,  and 
only  of  her ;  and  the  feeling  within  him  was  as  pure, 
and  holy,  and  beautiful  as  the  dream  of  an  angel.  He 
wanted  to  save  his  mother  from  insult  in  the  first 
place,  and  from  a  life  of  ceaseless  drudgery  in  the 
second. 

A  legion  of  angels  seemed  to  have  encamped  in  his 
soul  to  give  him  strength  for  the  great  purpose  in  his 
mind.  His  was  a  holy  and  a  true  purpose,  and  it 
was  this  that  made  him  think  he  could  "  do  wonders." 

What  Bobby  intended  to  do  the  reader  shall  know 
in  due  time.  It  is  enough  now  that  he  meant  to  uo 
something.  The  difficulty  with  a  great  many  people 


58  NOW    OE    NEVER  ;    OH, 

is,  that  they  never  resolve  to  do  something.  Thej 
wait  foi  "  something  to  turn  up  ;  "  and  as  "  things  " 
are  often  very  obstinate,  they  utterly  refuse  to  "  turn 
up "  at  all.  Their  lives  are  spent  in  waiting  for  a 
golden  opportunity  which  never  comes. 

Now,  Bobby  Bright  repudiated  the  Micawber  phi 
losophy.  He  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  it.  He 
did  not  believe  corn  would  grow  without  being  planted, 
or  that  pouts  would  bite  the  bare  hook. 

I  am  not  going  to  tell  my  young  readers  now  how 
Bobby  made  out  in  the  end ;  but  I  can  confidently 
say  that,  if  he  had  waited  for  "  something  to  turn  up," 
he  would  have  become  a  vagabond,  a  loafer,  out  of 
money,  out  at  the  elbows,  and  out  of  patience  with 
himself  and  all  the  world. 

It  was  "now  or  never"  with  Bobby.  He  meant 
to  do  something ;  and  after  he  had  made  up  his  mind 
how  and  where  it  was  to  be  done,  it  was  no  use  to 
stand  thinking  about  it,  like  the  pendulum  of  the 
"  old  clock  which  had  stood  for  fifty  years  in  a  farm 
er's  kitchen,  without  giving  its  ewner  any  cause  of 
ccmplaint." 

Bobby  walked  down  the  road  towards  the  village 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  5^ 

with  a  rapid  step.  He  was  thinking  very  fast,  and 
probably  that  made  him  step  quick.  But  as  he  ap 
proached  Squire  Lee's  house,  his  pace  slackened,  and 
he  seemed  to  be  very  uneasy.  When  he  reached  the 
great  gate  that  led  up  to  the  house,  he  stopped  foi 
an  instant,  and  thrust  his  hands  down  very  deep  into 
his  trousers  pockets.  I  cannot  tell  what  the  trou 
sers  pockets  had  to  do  with  what  he  was  thinking 
about ;  but  if  he  was  searching  for  any  thing  in  them, 
he  did  not  find  it ;  for  after  an  instant's  hesitation  he 
drew  out  his  hands,  struck  one  of  them  against  his 
chest,  and  in  an  audible  voice  exclaimed,  — 

"Now  or  never." 

All  this  pantomime,  I  suppose,  meant  that  Bobby 
had  some  misgivings  as  to  the  ultimate  success  of  hia 
mission  at  Squire  Lee's,  and  that  when  he  struck  his 
breast  and  uttered  his  favorite  expression,  they  were 
conquered  and  driven  out. 

Marching  with  a  bold  and  determined  step  up  to 
the  squire's  back  door — Bobby's  ideas  of,  etiquette 
would  not  have  answered  for  the  meridian  of  fashion 
able  society  —  he  gave  three  smart  raps. 

Bobby's  heart  beat  a  little  wildly  as  he  waited  a 


60  NOAV  OE  I»EVEK;  OB. 

response  to  his  summons.  It  seemed  that  he  stiL 
had  some  doubts  as  to  the  practicability  of  his  mis 
sion  ;  but  they  were  not  permitted  to  disturb  him 
long,  for  the  door  was  opened  by  the  Squire's  pretty 
daughter  Annie,  a  young  miss  of  twelve. 

"  O  Bobby,  is  it  you  ?  I  am  so  glad  you  have 
come  !  "  exclaimed  the  little  lady. 

Bobby  blushed  —  he  didn't  know  why,  unless  it 
was  that  the  young  lady  desired  to  see  him.  He 
stammered  out  a  reply,  and  for  the  moment  forgot 
the  object  of  his  visit. 

**  I  want  you  to  go  down  to  the  village  for  me,  and 
get  some  books  the  expressman  was  to  bring  up  from 
Boston  for  me.  "Will  you  go?  " 

"  Certainly,  Miss  Annie,  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  go 
for  you,"  replied  Bobby  with  an  emphasis  that  made 
the  little  maiden  blush  in  her  turn. 

<;  You  are  real  good,  Bobby ;  but  I  will  give  you 
something  for  going." 

"  I  don't  want  any  thing,"  said  Bobby,  stoutly. 

"  You  are  too  generous !  Ah,  I  heard  what  you 
did  this  forenoon ;  and  pa  says  that  a  great  many 
men  would  not  have  dared  tj  do  what  you  did.  I 


THE    ADVENTURES    uF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  61 

always  thought  you  were  as  brave  as  a  lion;  now  I 
know  it." 

"The  books  are  at  the  express  office,  I  suppose," 
said  Bobby,  turning  as  red  as  a  blood  beet. 

"  Yes,  Bobby  ;  I  am  so  anxious  to  get  them  that  I 
r»u't  wait  till  pa  goes  down  this  evening." 

"  I  will  not  be  gone  long." 

"  O,  you  needn't  run,  Bobby  ;  take  your  time." 

"  I  will  go  very  quick.  But,  Miss  Annie,  is  youi 
father  at  home  ?  " 

"  Not  now  ;  he  has  gone  over  to  the  wood  lot ; 
but  he  will  be  back  by  the  time  you  return." 

"  Will  you  please  to  tell  him  that  I  want  to  see 
him  about  something  very  particular,  when  he  gets 
back  ?  " 

"  I  will,  Bobby." 

•'  Thank  you,  Miss  Annie  ;  "  and  Bobby  hastened 
to  the  village  to  execute  his  commission. 

"  I  wonder  what  he  wants  to  see  pa  so  very  particu 
larly  for,"  said  the  young  lady  to  herself,  as  she 
watched  his  receding  form.  "  In  my  opinion,  some* 
thing  has  happened  at  the  little  black  house,  for  J 
could  see  that  he  looked  very  sober." 
6 


62  NOW  OR  JTEVEB;  OK, 

Either  Bobby  had  a  very  great  regard  foi  iiw 
young  lady,  and  wished  to  relieve  her  impatient  j  to 
behold  the  coveted  books,  or  he  was  in  a  hurry  to 
see  Squire  Lee ;  for  the  squire's  old  roan  horse  could 
hardly  have  gone  quicker. 

"  You  should  not  have  run,  Bobby,"  said  the  little 
maiden  when  he  placed  the  books  in  her  hand ;  "  I 
would  not  have  asked  you  to  go  if  I  had  thought  you 
would  run  all  the  way.  You  must  be  very  tired." 

"  Not  at  all ;  I  didn't  run,  only  walked  very  quick," 
replied  he ;  but  his  quick  breathing  indicated  that  his 
words  or  his  walk  had  been  very  much  exaggerated. 
"  Has  your  father  returned  ?  " 

"  He  has  ;  he  is  waiting  for  you  in  the  sitting 
room.  Come  in,  Bobby." 

Bobby  followed  her  into  the  room,  and  took  the 
chair  which  Annie  offered  him. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Bobby  ?  I  am  glad  to  see  you," 
sai.1  the  squire,  taking  him  by  the  hand,  and  bestow 
ing  a  benignant  smile  upon  him  —  a  smile  which 
cheered  his  heart  more  than  any  thing  else  could  at 
that  moment.  "  I  have  heard  of  you  before  to-day.'' 

"Have  you  r  " 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.     63 

9 

"  I  have,  Bobby ;  you  are  a  brave  little  fellow  " 

"  I  came  over  to  see  you,  sir,  about  something  verj 
particular,"  replied  Bobby,  whose  natural  modesty  in 
duced  him  to  change  the  topic. 

"  Indeed  ;  well,  what  can  I  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  A  great  deal,  sir ;  perhaps  you  will  think  I  am 
very  bold,  sir,  but  I  can't  help  it." 

"  I  know  you  are  a  very  bold  little  fellow,  or  you 
would  not  have  done  what  you  did  this  forenoon," 
laughed  the  squire. 

"  I  didn't  mean  that,  sir,"  answered  Bobby,  blush 
ing  up  to  the  eyes. 

"  I  know  you  didn't ;  but  go  on." 

"  I  only  meant  that  you  would  think  me  presuming, 
or  impudent,  or  something  of  that  kind." 

"  O,  no,  far  from  it.  You  cannot  be  presuming 
or  impudent.  Speak  out,  Bobby  ;  any  thing  under 
the  heavens  that  I  can  do  for  you,  I  shall  be  glad 
to  do." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  am  going  to  leave  Riverdale." 

"  Leave  Riverdale !" 

'  Yes,  sir  ;  I  am  going  to  Boston,  where  I  mean  fa 
do  something  to  help  mother." 


54  NOW   OK  SEVER;    OR, 

• 
"  Bravo !    you    are    a   good   lad.     What    do    you 

mean  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  was  thinking  I  should  go  into  the  book  busi 
ness." 

"  Indeed  !  "  and  Squire  Lee  was  much  amused  by 
the  matter-of-fact  manner  of  the  young  aspirant. 

"  I  was  talking  with  a  young  fellow  who  went 
through  the  place  last  spring,  selling  books.  He  told 
me  that  some  days  he  made  three  or  four  dollars,  and 
that  he  averaged  twelve  dollars  a  week." 

"  He  did  well ;  perhaps,  though,  only  a  few  of 
them  make  so  much." 

"  I  know  I  can  make  twelve  dollars  a  week,"  re 
plied  Bobby,  confidently,  for  that  something  within 
him  made  him  feel  capable  of  great  things. 

*'  I  dare  say  you  can.  You  have  energy  and  per 
severance,  and  people  take  a  liking  to  you." 

"  But  I  wanted  to  see  you  about  another  matter. 
To  speak  out  at  once,  I  want  to  borrow  sixty  dollars 
of  you  ;  "  and  Bobby  blushed,  and  seemed  very  much 
embarrassed  by  his  own  boldness. 

"  Sixty  dollars  !  "  exclaimed  the  squire. 

"  I  knew  you  would  think  me  impudent,"  replied 
our  hero,  his  heart  sinking  within  him. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  65 

"  But  I  don't,  Bobby.  You  want  this  money  to  go. 
into  business  with  —  to  buy  your  stock  of  books?  " 

"  O,  no,  sir ;  I  am  going  to  apply  to  Mr.  Bayard 
for  that." 

"  Just  so ;  Mr.  Bayard  is  the  gentleman  whose 
daughter  you  saved  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  want  this  money  to  pay  off  Mr.  Hard- 
hand.  We  owe  him  but  sixty  dollars  now,  and  ho 
has  threatened  to  turn  us  out,  if  it  is  not  paid  by  to 
morrow  noon." 

"  The  old  hunks  !  " 

Bobby  briefly  related  to  the  squire  the  events  of 
the  morning,  much  to  the  indignation  and  disgust  of 
the  honest,  kind-hearted  man.  The  courageous  boy 
detailed,  more  clearly  his  purpose,  and  doubted  not 
he  should  be  able  to  pay  tht  loan  in  a  few  months. 

"  Very  well,  Bobby,  here  is  the  money ;  "  and  the 
squire  took  it  from  his  wallet,  -end  gave  it  to  him. 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  May  Heaven  bless  you  !  I  shall 
certainly  pay  you." 

*'  Don't  worry  about  it,  Bobby.  Pay  it  when  you 
get  ready."  • 

"  I  will  give  you  my  note,  and " 

6* 


56  NOW  oa  XEVEK;    on, 

The  ,quire  laughed  heartily  at  this,  and  told  him, 
that,  as  he  was  a  minor,  his  note  was  not  good  for 
any  thing. 

"  You  shall  see  whether  it  is,  or  not,"  returned 
Bobby.  "  Let  me  give  it  to  you,  at  least,  so  that  we 
can  tell  how  much  I  owe  you  from  time  to  time." 

"  You  shall  have  your  own  way." 

Annie  Lee,  as  much  amused  as  her  father  at 
Bobby's  big  talk,  got  the  writing  materials,  and 
the  little  merchant  in  embryo  wrote  and  signed  the 
note. 

"  Good,  Bobby !  Now  promise  that  you  will  come 
and  see  me  every  time  you  come  home,  and  tell  me 
how  you  are  getting  along." 

"  I  will,  sir,  with  the  greatest  pleasure  ;  and  with 
a  light  heart  Bobby  tripped  iway  home. 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBi  BRIGHT.     67 


CHAPTER  VI. 

IN  "WHICH  BOBBY  SETS  OUT  ON  HIS  TRAYELS, 

SQUIRE  LEE,  though  only  a  plain  farmer,  was  the 
richest  man  in  Riverdale.  He  had  taken  a  great  fancy 
to  Bobby,  and  often  employed  him  to  do  errands,  ride 
the  horse  to  plough  in  the  cornfields,  and  such  chorea 
about  the  place  as  a  boy  could  do.  He  liked  to  talk 
with  Bobby  because  there  was  a  great  deal  of  good 
sense  in  him,  for  one  with  a  small  head. 

If  there  was  any  one  thing  upon  which  the  squire 
particularly  prided  himself,  it  was  his  knowledge  of 
human  nature.  He  declared  that  he  only  wanted  to 
look  a  man  in  the  face  to  know  what  he  was ;  and  as 
for  Bobby  Bright,  he  had  summered  him  and  wintered 
him,  and  he  was  satisfied  that  he  would  make  some 
thing  in  good  time. 

He  was  not  much  astonished  when  Bobby  opened 
his  ambitious  scheme  of  going  into  business  for  him- 


* 

68  NOW    OK    NEVER  ;    OK, 

self.  But  lie  had  full  faith  in  his  ability  to  work  out 
a  useful  and  profitable,  if  not  a  brilliant  life.  He 
often  said  that  Bobby  was  worth  his  weight  in  gold, 
and  that  he  would  trust  him  with  any  thing  he  had. 
Perhaps  he  did  not  suspect  that  the  time  was  at  hand 
when  he  would  be  called  upon  to  verify  his  words 
practically ;  for  it  was  only  that  morning,  when  one 
of  the  neighbors  told  him  about  Bobby's  stopping  the 
horse,  that  he  had  repeated  the  expression  for  the 
twentieth  time. 

It  was  not  an  idle  remark.  Sixty  dollars  was 
hardly  worth  mentioning  with  a  man  of  his  wealth 
and  liberal  views,  though  so  careful  a  man  as  he 
was  would  not  have  been,  likely  to  throw  away  that 
amount.  But  as  a  matter  of  investment, — Bobby  had 
made  the  note  read  "with  interest,"  —  he  would  as 
readily  have  let  him  have  it,  as  the  next  richest  man 
in  the  place,  so  much  confidence  had  he  in  our  hero's 
integrity,  and  so  sure  was  he  that  he  would  soon  have 
the  means  of  paying  him. 

Bobby  was  overjoyed  at  the  fortunate  issue  of  his 
mission,  and  he  walked  into  the  room  where  his 
mother  was  closing  shoes,  with  a  dignity  worthy  9 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  69 

banker  or  a  great  merchant.  Mrs.  Bright  was  very 
sad.  Perhaps  she  felt  a  little  grieved  that  her  son, 
whom  she  loved  so  much,  had  so  thoughtlessly 
plunged  her  into  a  new  difficulty. 

"  Come,  cheer  up,  mother ;  it  is  all  right,"  said 
Bobby  in  his  usual  elastic  and  gay  tones ;  and  at  the 
same  time  he  took  the  sixty  dollars  from  his  pocket 
and  handed  it  to  her.  "  There  is  the  money,  and 
you  will  be  forever  quit  of  Mr.  Hardhand  to-morrow  " 

"  What,  Bobby  !  Why,  where  did  you  get  all  this 
money?  "  asked  Mrs.  Bright,  utterly  astonished. 

In  a  few  words  the  ambitious  boy  told  his  story, 
and  then  informed  his  mother  that  he  was  going  to 
Boston  the  next  Monday  morning,  to  commence  busi 
ness  for  himself. 

44  Why,  what  can  you  do,  Bobby  ?  " 

44  I>o  ?  I  can  do  a  great  many  things ;  "  and  he 
unfolded  his  scheme  of  becoming  a  little  book  mer 
chant. 

"  You  are  a  courageous  fellow  !  Who  would  ha 76 
hcught  of  such  a  thing  ?  " 

"  I  should,  and  did." 

"  But  you  are  not  old  enough." 


70  NOW    OR    XETEK  ;    OK, 

•*  O,  yes,  I  am." 

*»  You  had  better  wait  a  while." 

"  Now  or  never,  mother  !  You  see  I  have  g.veu 
my  note,  and  my  paper  will  be  dishonored,  il  I  ano 
not  up  and  doing." 

"  Your  paper  !  "  said  Mrs.  Bright,  with  a  smile. 

"  That  is  what  Mr.  Wing,  the  boot  manufacturer, 
calls  it." 

"  You  needn't  go  away  to  earn  this  money  ;  1  can 
pay  it  mjself." 

"  This  note  is  my  affair,  and  I  mean  to  pay  it  my 
self  with  my  own  earnings.  No  objections,  mother." 

Like  a  sensible  woman  as  she  was,  she  did  not 
make  any  objections.  She  was  conscious  of  Bobby's 
talents ;  she  knew  that  he  had  a  strong  mind  of  his 
own,  and  could  take  care  of  himself.  It  is  true,  she 
feared  the  influence  of  the  great  world,  and  especially 
of  the  great  city,  upon  the  tender  mind  of  her  son ; 
but  if  he  was  never  tempted,  he  would  never  be  a 
conqueror  over  the  foes  that  beset  him. 

She  determit  ed  to  do  her  whole  duty  towards  hi;n ; 
and  she  carefully  pointed  out  to  him  the  sins  and  the 
moral  linger  to  which  La  would  be  exposed,  antf 


THE    ADVENTUXES    CF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  71 

Jrarned  him  always  to  resist  temptation.  She  coun 
selled  him  to  think  of  her  when  he  felt  like  going 
astray. 

Bobby  declared  that  he  wovld  try  to  be  a  good 
boy.  He  did  not  speak  contemptuously  of  the  an 
ticipated  perils,  as  many  boys  would  have  done,  be 
cause  he  knew  that  his  mother  would  not  make  bug 
bears  out  of  things  which  she  knew  had  no  real  ex 
istence. 

The  next  day,  Mr.  Hardhand  came  ;  and  my  young 
readers  can  judge  how  astonished  and  chagrined  he 
was,  when  the  widow  Bright  offered  him  the  sixty 
dollars.  The  Lord  was  with  the  widow  and  the 
fatherless,  and  the  wretch  was  cheated  out  of  his 
revenge.  The  note  was  given  up,  and  the  mortgage 
cancelled. 

Mr.  Hardhand  insisted  that  she  should  pay  the  in 
terest  on  the  sixty  dollars  for  one  day,  as  it  was  then 
the  second  day  of  July  ;  but  when  Bobby  reckoned  it 
up,  and  found  it  was  less  than  one  cent,  even  the 
wretched  miser  seemed  ashamed  of  himself,  and 
changed  the  subject  of  conversation. 

He  did    njt    dare  to  say  any  thing  saucy   to  tha 


72  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;     OR, 

iridow  this  time.  He  had  lost  his  power  over  her, 
and  there  stood  Bobby,  who  had  come  to  look  jusi 
like  a  young  lion  to  him,  coward  and  knave  as  he 
was. 

The  business  was  all  settled  now,  and  Bobby  spent 
the  rest  of  the  week  in  getting  ready  for  his  great 
enterprise.  He  visited  all  his  friends,  and  went  each 
day  to  talk  with  Squire  Lee  and  Annie.  The  little 
maiden  promised  to  buy  a  great  many  books  of 
him,  if  he  would  bring  his  stock  to  Riverdale,  for 
she  was  quite  as  much  interested  in  him  as  her 
father  was. 

Monday  morning  came,  and  Bobby  was  out  of  bed 
with  the  first  streak  of  dawn.  The  excitement  of  the 
great  event  which  was  about  to  happen  had  not  per 
mitted  him  to  sleep  for  the  two  hours  preceding ;  yet 
when  he  got  up,  he  could  not  help  feeling  sad.  He 
was  going  to  leave  the  little  black  house,  going  to 
leave  his  mother,  going  to  leave  the  children,  to  de 
part  for  the  great  city. 

His  mother  was  up  before  him.  She  was  even 
more  sad  than  he  was,  for  she  could  see  plainer  than 
he  the  perils  that  environed  him,  and  her  maternal 


THE   ADVEXXt  RES    OF    BOBP.Y    BRIGHT.  73 

heart,  in  spite  of  the  reasonable  confidence  she  had  iff 
his  integrity  and  good  principles,  trembled  for  his 
safety. 

As  he  ate  his  breakfast,  his  mother  repeated  the 
warnings  and  the  good  lessons  she  had  before  im 
parted.  She  particularly  cautioned  him  to  keep  out 
of  bad  company.  If  he  found  that  his  companions 
would  lie  and  swear,  he  might  depend  upon  it  they 
would  steal,  and  he  had  better  forsake  them  at  once. 
This  was  excellent  advice,  and  Bobby  had  occasion  at 
a  later  period  to  call  it  to  his  sorrowing  heart. 

"  Here  is  three  dollars,  Bobby  ;  it  is  all  the  money 
I  have.  Your  fare  to  Boston  will  be  one  dollar,  ami 
you  will  have  two  left  to  pay  the  expenses  of  your 
first  trip.  It  is  all  I  have  now,"  said  Mrs.  Bright. 

"  I  will  not  take  the  whole  of  it.  You  will  want  it 
yourself.  One  dollar  is  enough.  When  I  find  Mr. 
Bayard,  I  shall  do  very  well." 

"  Yes,  Bobby,  take  the  whole  of  it." 

"  I  will  take  just  one  dollar,  and  no  more,"  replied 
Bobby,  resolutely,  as  he  handed  her  the  other  twc 
dollars. 

•'  Do  take  it,  Bobby." 


74  N3W  OR  NEVER;  OR, 

"  No,  mother ;  it  will  only  make  me  lazy  and  in 
different." 

Taking  a  clean  shirt,  a  pair  of  socks,  and  a  hand 
kerchief  in  his  bundle,  he  was  ready  for  a  start. 

"  Good  by,  mother,"  said  he,  kissing  her  and  taking 
her  hand.  "  I  shall  try  and  come  home  on  Saturday, 
so  as  to  be  with  you  on  Sunday." 

Then  kissing  the  children,  who  had  not  yet  got  up, 
and  to  whom  he  had  bidden  adieu  the  night  before, 
he  left  the  house.  He  had  seen  the  flood  of  teara 
that  filled  his  mother's  eyes,  as  he  crossed  the  thresh 
old  ;  and  he  could  not  help  crying  a  little  himself. 
It  is  a  sad  thing  to  leave  one's  home,  one's  mother, 
especially,  to  go  out  into  the  great  world ;  and  we 
need  not  wonder  that  Bobby,  who  had  hardly  been 
out  of  Kiverdale  before,  should  weep.  But  he  soon 
restrained  the  flowing  tears. 

"  Now  or  never !  "  said  he,  and  he  put  his  best 
foot  forward. 

It  was  an  epoch  in  his  history,  and  though  he  was 
too  young  to  realize  the  importance  of  the  event,  he 
seemed  to  feel  that  what  he.  did  now  was  tf  giv^ 
character  to  his  whole  future  life. 


1HF    ADVElsTUKES    OF    BOBIY    BRIGHT.  75 

It  was  a  bright  and  beautiful  morning  —  somehow, 
i  is  always  a  bright  and  beautiful  morning  when  boys 
leave  their  homes  to  commence  the  journey  of  life  ; 
it  is  typical  of  the  season  of  youth  and  hope,  and  it  is 
meet  that  the  sky  should  be  clear,  and  the  sun  shine 
brightly,  when  the  little  pilgrim  sets  out  upon  his 
tour.  He  will  see  clouds  and  storms  before  he  has 
gone  far  —  let  him  have  a  fair  start. 

He  had  to  walk  five  miles  to  the  nearest  railroad 
station.  His  road  lay  by  the  house  of  his  friend, 
Squire  Lee ;  and  as  he  was  approaching  it,  he  met 
Annie.  She  said  she  had  come  out  to  take  her  morn- 
iug  walk  ;  but  Bobby  knew  very  well  that  she  did  not 
usually  walk  till  an  hour  later ;  which,  with  the  fact 
that  she  had  asked  him  particularly,  the  day  before, 
what  time  he  was  goirg,  made  Bobby  believe  that  she 
had  come  out  to  say  good  by,  and  bid  him  God 
speed  on  his  journey.  At  any  rate,  he  was  very  glad 
to  see  her.  He  said  a  great  many  pretty  things  to 
her,  and  talked  so  big  about  what  he  was  going  to  do, 
that  the  little  maiden  could  hardly  help  laughing  in 
nis  face. 

Ihen  at  the  house  he  shook  hands  with  the  squire, 


76  NOW    OK    NEVER  ;    OR, 

And  shook  hands  again  with  Annie,  and  res/urnec!  his 
journey.  His  heart  felt  lighter  for  having  met  them, 
or  at  least  for  having  met  one  of  them,  if  not  hoth  ; 
for  Annie's  eyes  were  so  full  of  sunshine  that  they 
seemed  to  gladden  his  heart,  and  make  him  feel  truer 
and  stronger. 

After  a  pleasant  walk,  for  he  scarcely  heeded  the 
distance,  so  full  was  he  of  his  hig  thoughts,  he 
reached  the  railroad  station.  The  cars  had  not  yet 
arrived,  and  would  not  for  half  an  hour. 

"  Why  should  I  give  theni  a  dollar  for  carrying  me 
to  Boston,  -when.  I  can  just  as  well  walk  ?  If  I  get 
tired,  I  car  sit  down  and  rest  me.  If  I  save  the  dol 
lar,  I  sh-vT.  have  to  earn  only  fifty-nine  morr  to  pay 
my  not«  So  here  goes;  "  and  he  started  (\-'Wn  the 
track. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BEIQHT.  71 


CHAPTER    VII. 

IN    WHICH    BOBBY    STANDS    UP     FOB     "CERTAIN    IN 
ALIENABLE     SIGHTS." 

WHETHER  it  was  wise  policy,  or  "  penny  wise  and 
pound  foolish"  policy  for  Bobby  to  undertake  such  a 
long  walk,  is  certainly  a  debatable  question ;  but  as 
my  young  readers  would  probably  object  to  an  argu 
ment,  we  will  follow  him  to  the  city,  and  let  every 
one  settle  the  point  to  suit  himself. 

His  cheerful  heart  made  the  road  smooth  beneath 
his  feet.  He  had  always  been  accustomed  to  an  ac 
tive,  busy  life,  and  had  probably  often  walked  more 
than  twenty  miles  in  a  day.  About  ten  o'clock, 
though  he  did  not  feel  much  fatigued,  he  seated  him 
self  on  a  rock  by  a  brook  from  which  he  had  just 
taken  a  drink,  to  rest  himself.  He  had  walked  slowly 
BO  as  to  husband  his  strength ;  and  he  felt  confident 
that  he  should  be  able  to  accomplish  the  journey  with 
out  injury  to  himself. 
7* 


78  NOW    OK    NEVEK  ;    OK, 

Aflei  resting  for  half  an  hour,  he  resumed  ais  walk 
A.t  twelve  o'clock  he  reached  a  point  from  vhich  he 
obtained  his  first  view  of  the  city.  His  heart  bounded 
at  the  sight,  and  his  first  impulse  was  to  increase  his 
speed  so  that  he  should  the  sooner  gratify  his  curios 
ity  ;  but  a  second  thought  reminded  him  that  he  had 
eaten  nothing  since  breakfast;  so,  finding  a  shady 
tree  by  the  road  side,  he  seated  himself  on  a  stone  to 
eat  the  luncheon  which  his  considerate  mother  had 
placed  in  his  bundle. 

Thus  refreshed,  he  felt  like  a  new  man,  and  con 
tinued  his  journey  again  till  he  was  on  the  very  out 
skirts  of  the 'city,  where  a  sign,  "  No  passing  over  this 
bridge,"  interrupted  his  farther  progress.  Unlike 
many  others,  Bobby  took  this  sign  literally,  and  did 
not  venture  to  cross  the  bridge.  Having  some  doubts 
as  to  the  direct  road  to  the  city,  he  hailed  a  man  in  a 
butcher's  cart,  who  not  only  pointed  the  way,  but 
gave  him  an  invitation  to  ride  with  him,  which  Bobby 
was  glad  to  accept. 

They  crossed  the  Milldam,  and  the  little  pilgrim 
forgot  the  long  walk  he  had  taken  —  forgot  River- 
dale,  his  mother,  Squire  Lee,  and  Annie,  for  the  time. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  79 

in  the  absorbing  interest  of  the  exciting  scene.  The 
Common  beat  Riverdale  Common  all  hollow ;  he  had 
never  seen  any  thing  like  it  before.  But  when  the 
wagon  reached  Washington  Street,  the  measure  of  his 
surprise  was  filled  up. 

"  My  gracious  !  how  thick  the  houses  are !  "  ex 
claimed  he,  much  to  the  amusement  of  the  kind- 
hearted  butcher. 

"  We  have  high  fences  here,"  he  replied. 

"  Where  are  all  these  folks  going  to  ?  " 

"  You  will  have  to  ask  them,  if  you  want  to  know." 

But  the  wonder  soon  abated,  and  Bobby  began  to 

think  of  his  great  mission  in  the  city.     He  got  tired 

of  gazing  and  wondering,  and  even  began  to  smile 

with  contempt  at  the   silly  fops   as  they  sauntered 

along,  and  the  gayly-dressed  ladies,  that  flaunted  like 

so  manv  idle  butterflies,  on  the  sidewalk.     It  was  an 

exciting  scene ;  but  it  did  not  look  real  to  him.-     It 

was  more  like  Herr  Grunderslung's  exhibition  of  the 

magic  lantern,  than  any  thing  substantial.     The  men 

and  women  were  like  so  many  puppets.     They  did 

not  seem  to  be  doing  any  thing,  or  to  be  walking  foi 

any  purpose. 


82  NOW    OK    XEVEK  ;     OK, 

"  I'll  let  you  know  what  I  mean  !  " 

"  When  you  do,  I'll  let  you  know  what  I  mean  bj 
sappy." 

"  Good !  "  exclaimed  one  of  the  salesmen,  who  had 
neard  part  of  this  spirited  conversation.  "  You  will 
learn  better  by  and  by,  Timmins,  than  to  impose  upon 
boys  from  out  of  town." 

"  You  seem  to  be  a  gentleman,  sir,"  said  Bobby, 
approaching  the  salesman.  "  I  wish  to  see  Mr.  Bay 
ard." 

"  You  can't  see  him !  "  growled  Timmins. 

"  Can't  I  ?  " 

"  Not  at  this  minute ;  he  is  engaged  just  now," 
added  the  salesman,  who  seemed  to  have  a  profound 
respect  for  Bobby's  discrimination.  "  He  will  be  at 
liberty  in  a  few  moments." 

"  I  will  wait,  then,"  said  Bobby,  seating  himself  on 
a  stool  by  the  counter. 

Pretty  soon  the  civil  gentleman  left  the  store  to  go 
to  dinner,  and  Timmins,  a  little  timid  about  provok 
ing  the  young  lion,  cast  an  occasional  glance  of  hatred 
at  him.  He  had  evidently  found  that  "  Country  "  was 
an  embryo  A.merican  citizen,  and  that  he  was  a  firn. 


THE  ADVENTUBES  OF  BOBBY  BKIGHT.     33 

believer  in  the  self-evident  truths  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence. 

Bobby  bore  no  ill  will  towards  the  spruce  clerk, 
ready  as  he  had  been  to  defend  his  "  certain  inalien 
able  rights." 

"  You  do  a  big  business  here,"  suggested  Bobby,  in 
a  conciliatory  tone,  and  with  a  smile  on  his  face  which 
ought  to  have.conyinced  the  uncourteous  clerk  that 
he  meant  well. 

"  Who  told  you  so  ?  "  replied  Timmins,  gruffly. 

"  I  merely  judged  from  appearances.  You  have  a 
big  store,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  books." 

"  Appearances  are  deceitful,"  replied  Timmins ; 
and  perhaps  he  had  been  impressed  by  the  fact  from 
his  experience  with  the  lad  from  the  country. 

"  That  is  true,"  added  Bobby,  with  a  good-natured 
smile,  which,  when  interpreted,  might  have  meant, "  I 
took  you  for  a  civil  fellow,  but  I  have  been  very  much 
mistaken." 

"  You  will  find  it  out  before  you  are  many  days 
older." 

"  The  book  business  is  good  just  now.  isn't  it  ?  '* 
continued  Bobby,  without  clearly  comprehending  '<h« 
meaning  of  the  other's  last  remark. 


82  NOW  OK  XEVER;    OK, 

"  I'll  let  you  know  what  I  mean  !  " 

"  When  you  do,  I'll  let  you  know  what  I  mean  bj 
sappy." 

"  Good !  "  exclaimed  one  of  the  salesmen,  who  had 
neard  part  of  this  spirited  conversation.  "  You  will 
learn  better  by  and  by,  Timmins,  than  to  impose  upon 
boys  from  out  of  town." 

"  You  seem  to  be  a  gentleman,  sir,"  said  Bobby, 
approaching  the  salesman.  "  I  wish  to  see  Mr.  Bay 
ard." 

"  You  can't  see  him !  "  growled  Timmins. 

"  Can't  I  ?  " 

"  Not  at  this  minute ;  he  is  engaged  just  now," 
added  the  salesman,  who  seemed  to  have  a  profound 
respect  for  Bobby's  discrimination.  "  He  will  be  at 
liberty  in  a  few  moments." 

"  I  will  wait,  then,"  said  Bobby,  seating  himself  on 
a  stool  by  the  counter. 

Pretty  soon  the  civil  gentleman  left  the  store  to  go 
to  dinner,  and  Timmins,  a  little  timid  about  provok 
ing  the  young  lion,  cast  an  occasional  glance  of  hatred 
at  him.  He  had  evidently  found  that  "  Country  "  was 
an  embryo  A.merican  citizen,  and  that  he  was  a  fun. 


THE    ADVENTT7BES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  851 

believer  in  the  self-evident  truths  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence. 

Bobby  bore  no  ill  will  towards  the  spruce  clerk, 
ready  as  he  had  been  to  defend  his  "  certain  inalien 
able  rights." 

"  You  do  a  big  business  here,"  suggested  Bobby,  in 
a  conciliatory  tone,  and  with  a  smile  on  his  face  which 
ought  to  have.conyinced  the  uncourteous  clerk  that 
he  meant  well. 

*'  Who  told  you  so  ?  "  replied  Timmins,  gruffly. 

"  I  merely  judged  from  appearances.  You  have  a 
big  store,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  books." 

"  Appearances  are  deceitful,"  replied  Timmins ; 
and  perhaps  he  had  been  impressed  by  the  fact  from 
his  experience  with  the  lad  from  the  country. 

"  That  is  true,"  added  Bobby,  with  a  good-natured 
smile,  which,  when  interpreted,  might  have  meant, "  I 
took  you  for  a  civil  fellow,  but  I  have  been  very  much 
mistaken." 

"  You  will  find  it  out  before  you  are  many  days 
older." 

"  The  book  business  is  good  just  now.  isn't  it  ?  '* 
continued  Bobby,  without  clearly  comprehending  Uifl 
meaning  of  the  other's  last  remark. 


84  NOW  OR  NEVEK;    OB. 

"  Humph  !     What's  that  to  you  ?  " 

"  O,  I  intend  to  go  into  it  myself." 

"  Ha,  ha,  ha  !     Good  !     You  do  ?  r' 

"  I  do,"  replied  Bobby,  seemingly  unconcerned  at 
ihe  taunts  of  the  clerk. 

"  I  suppose  you  want  to  get  a  place  here,"  sneered 
fimmins,  alarmed  at  the  prospect.  "  But  let  me  tell 
fou,  you  can't  do  it.  Bayard  h^s  all  the  help  he 
ivants  ;  and  if  that  is  what  you  come  for,  you  can 
^flove  on  as  fast  as  you  please." 

"  I  guess  I  will  see  him,"  added  Bobby  quietly. 

"  No  use." 

"  No  harm  in  seeing  him."  ^ 

As  he  spoke  he  took  up  a  book  that  lay  on  the 
lounter,  and  began  to  turn  over  the  leaves. 

"  Put  that  book  down !  "  said  the  amiable  Mr. 
Timmins. 

"  I  won't  hurt  it,"  replied  Bobby,  who  had  just 
fixed  his  eye  upon  some  very  pretty  engravings  in  the 
volume. 

"  Put  it  down !  "  repeated  Mr.  Timmins,  in  a  loud, 
imperative  tone. 

"  Certainly  I  will,  if  you  say  so,"  said  Bobby,  who» 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  8£ 

though  not  much  intimidated  by  the  harsh  tonos  of 
the  clerk,  did  not  know  the  rules  of  the  store,  and 
deemed  it  prudent  not  to  meddle. 

"  I  do  say  so  !  "  added  Mr.  Timmins,  magnificently; 
"  and  what's  more,  you'd  better  mind  me,  too." 

Bobby  had  minded,  and  probably  the  stately  little 
clerk  would  not  have  been  so  bold  if  he  had  not. 
Some  people  like  to  threaten  after  the  danger  is  over. 

Then  our  visitor  from  the  country  espied  some  little 
blank  books  lying  on  the  counter.  He  had  already 
made  up"  his  mind  to  have  one,  in  which  to  keep  his 
accounts ;  and  lie  thought,  while  he  was  waiting,  that 
he  would  purchase  one.  He  meant  to  do  things  me 
thodically ;  so  when  he  picked  up  one  of  the  blank 
books,  it  was  with  the  intention  of  buying  it. 

"  Put  that  book  down ! "  said  Mr.  Timmins,  en 
couraged  in  his  aggressive  intentions  by  the  previous 
docility  of  our  hero. 

"  I  want  to  buy  one." 

"  No,  you  don't :  put  it  down." 

"  What  is  the  price  of  these  ?  "  asked  Bobby,  res 
olutely. 

"  None  of  your  business  !  " 
8 


tJ6  NOW  OR  NEVER;    OR, 

"  Is  that  the  way  you  treat  your  customers  ?  "  asked 
Bohhy,  with  a  little  sternness  in  his  looks  and  tones. 
•*  I  say  I  want  to  buy  one." 

"  Put  it  down !  " 

"  But  I  will  not ;  I  say  I  want  to  buy  it." 

"  No,  you  don't !  " 

"What  is  the  price  of  it?  " 

"  Twenty-five  cents,"  growled  Timmins.  which  wa« 
just  four  times  the  retail  price. 

"  Twenty-five  cents  !     That's  high." 

"  Put  it  down,  then." 

"  Is  that  your  lowest  price  ? "  asked  Bobby,  who 
was  as  cool  as  a  cucumber. 

"  Yes,  it  is  ;  and  if  you  don't  put  it  down,  I'll  kick 
you  out  of  the  store." 

"  Will  you  ?     Then  I  won't  put  it  down." 

Mr.  Timmins  took  this  as  a  "  stump ;  "  his  ire  was 
up,  and  he  walked  round  from  behind  the  counter  to 
execute  his  threat. 

I  must  say  I  think  Bobby  was  a  little  forward,  and 
I  would  have  my  young  readers  a  little  more  pliant 
with  small  men  like  Timmins.  There  are  always  mej 
snough  in  the  world  who  are  ready  and  willing  to 


THE   ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  8? 

quarrel  on  any  provocation  ;  and  it  is  always  best  not 
to  provoke  them,  even  if  they  are  overbearing  and  in 
solent,  as  Mr.  Timmins  certainly  was.  / 

*'  Hold  on  a  minute  before  you  do  it,"  said  Bobby, 
with  the  same  provoking  coolness.  "  I  want  to  buy 
this  book,  and  I  am  willing  to  pay  a  fair  price  for  it. 
But  I  happen  to  know  that  you  can  buy  them  up  in 
Riverdale,  where  I  came  from,  for  six  cents." 

"  No  matter,"  exclaimed  the  indignant  clerk,  seiz 
ing  Bobby  hy  the  coat  collar  for  the  purpose  of  eject 
ing  him ;  "  you  shall  find  your  way  into  the  street." 

Now,  Bobby,  as  I  have  before  intimated,  was  an 

I 
embryo  American  citizen,  and  the  act  of  Mr.  Timmins 

seemed  like  an  invasion  of  his  inalienable  rights. 
No  time  was  given  him  to  make  a  formal  declaration 
of  rights  in  the  premises  ;  so  the  instinct  of  self-pres 
ervation  was  allowed  to  have  free  course. 

Mr.  Timmins  pulled  and  tugged  at  his  coat  collar, 
and  Bobby  hung  back  like  a  mule  ;  and  for  an  instant 
there  was  quite  a  spirited  scene. 

"  Hallo  !  Timmins,  what  does  this  mean  ?  "  said  a 
voice,  at  which  the  valiant  little  clerk  instantly  let  gc 
fcis  hold. 


88  NOW  OK  NEYEB;  OH, 


CHAPTER     VIII. 

IN      WHICH      MB.     TIMMIKS      IS     ASTONISHED,     AND 
BOBBY    DINES    IN    CHESTNUT    STBEET. 

IT  was  Mr.  Bayard.  He  had  finished  his  business 
with  the  gentleman  by  his  side,  and  hearing  the  noise 
of  the  scuffle,  had  come  to  learn  the  occasion  of  it. 

"  This  impudent  young  puppy  wouldn't  let  the 
books  alone !  "  began  Mr.  Timmins.  "  I  threatened 
to  turn  him  out  if  he  didn't ;  and  I  meant  to  make 
good  my  threat.  I  think  he  meant  to  steal  some 
thing." 

Bobby  was  astonished  and  shocked  at  this  bold  im 
putation  ;  but  he  wished  to  have  his  case  judged  on 
its  own  merits ;  so  he  turned  his  face  away,  that  Mr. 
Bayard  might  not  recognize  him. 

"  I  wanted  to  buy  one  of  these  blank  books,"  add 
ed  Bobby,  picking  up  the  one  he  had  dropped  on  th<» 
floor  in  the  struggle. 


THE    A.DVEXTUB.ES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  %$ 

.'«  All  stuff!  "  ejaculated  Timmins.  "  He  is  an  im 
pudent,  obstinate  puppy !  In  my  opinion  he  meant 
to  steal  that  book." 

"  I  asked  him  the  price,  and  told  him  I  wanted  to 
buy  it,''  added  Bobby,  still  averting  his  face. 

"  Well,  I  told  him ;  and  he  said  it  was  too  high." 
'•  He  asked  me  twenty-five  cents  for  it." 
"  Is    this    true,    Timmins  ? "    asked   Mr.    Bayard, 
sternly. 

"  No,  sir  !  I  told  him  fourpence,"  replied  Timmins 
boldly. 

"  By  gracious  !  What  a  whopper  !  "  exclaimed 

»• 

Bobby,  startled  out  of  his  propriety  by  this  mon 
strous  lie.  "  He  said  twenty-five  cents  ;  and  I  told 
him  I  could  buy  one  up  in  Riverdale,  where  I  came 
from,  for  six  cents.  Can  you  deny  that  ?  " 

"  It's  a  lie !  "  protested  Timmins. 

"  Riverdale,"  said  Mr.  Bayard.  "  Are  you  from 
Riverdale,  boy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  am ;  and  if  you  will  look  on  youi 
memorandum  book  you  will  find  my  name  there." 

"  Bless  me  !  I  am  sure  I  have  seen  that  face  before," 
exclaimed  Mr.  Bayard,  as  he  grasped  the  hand  of 
8* 


90  NOW  OR  NEVEK;  OK, 

Bcbby,  mucli  to  the  astonishment  and  consternation 
of  Mr.  Timmins.  You  are " 

"  Robert  Bright,  sir." 

"  My  brave  little  fellow  !  I  am  heartily  glad  to 
see  you ;  "  and  the  bookseller  shook  the  hand  he  held 
with  hearty  good  will.  "  I  was  thinking  of  you  only 
a  little  while  ago." 

"  This  fellow  calls  me  a  liar,"  said  Bobby,  point 
ing  to  the  astonished  Mr.  Tiniinins,  who  did  not 
know  what  to  make  of  the  cordial  reception  which 
"  Country  "  was  receiving  from  his  employer. 

"  Well,  Robert,  we  know  that  he  is  a  liar ;  this  is 
not  the  first  time  he  has  been  caught  in  a  lie.  Tim 
mins,  your  time  is  out." 

The  spruce  clerk  hung  his  head  with  shame  and 
mortification. 

"  I  hope,  sir,  you  will "  he  began,  but  pride 

or  fear  stopped  him,  short. 

"  Don't  be  hard  with  him,  sir,  if  you  please."  said 
Bobby.  "  I  suppose  I  aggravated  him." 

Mr.  Bayard  looked  at  the  gentleman  who  stood  by 
his  side,  and  a  smile  of  approbation  lighted  up  hid 
face. 


THE    AJDVF.NTUBES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  9i 

*'  Generous  as  he  is  noble  1  Butler,  this  is  the  boy 
that  saved  Ellen." 

"  Indeed !  He  is  a  little  giant ! "  replied  Mr. 
Butler,  grasping  Bobby's  hand. 

Even  Timmins  glanced  with  something  like  admi 
ration  in  his  looks  at  the  youth  whom  he  had  so 
lately  despised.  Perhaps,  too,  he  thought  of  that 
Scripture  wisdom  about  entertaining  angels  unawares. 
He  was  very  much  abashed,  and  nothing  but  his  silly 
pride  prevented  him  from  acknowledging  his  error, 
and  begging  Bobby's  forgiveness. 

"  I  can't  have  a  liar  about  me,"  said  Mr.  Bayard. 

"  There  may  be  some  mistake,"  suggested  Mr. 
Butler. 

"  I  think  not.  Robert  Bright  couldn't  lie.  So 
brave  and  noble  a  boy  is  incapable  of  a  falsehood. 
Besides,  I  got  a  letter  from  my  friend  Squire  Lee  by 
this  morning's  mail,  in  which  he  informed  me  of  my 
young  friend's  coming." 

Mr.  Bayard  took  from  his  pocket  a  bundle  of  letters, 
and  selected  the  squire's  from  among  them.  Opening 
it,  he  read  a  passage  which  had  a  direct  bearing  upon 
Vhe  case  before  him. 


12  NOW    OR    JCEVER  ;    OK, 

"  '  I  do  not  know  what  Bobby's  faults  are,  "  —  th« 
letter  said,  —  "  '  but  this  I  do  know :  that  Bobby 
would  rather  be  whipped  than  tell  a  15e.  He  is 
noted  through  the  place  for  his  love  of  truth.'  —  That 
is  pretty  strong  testimony  ;  and  you  see,  Bobby,  — 
that's  what  the  squire  calls  you,  —  your  reputation 
hdS  preceded  you." 

Bobby  blushed,  as  he  always  did  when  he  was 
praised,  and  Mr.  Timmins  was  more  abashed  than 
ever. 

"  Did  you  hear  that,  Timmins  ?  Who  is  the  liar 
now  ?  "  said  Mr.  Bayard,  turning  to  the  culprit. 

"  Forgive  me,  sir,  this  time.  If  you  t\irn  me  off 
now,  I  cannot  get  another  place,  and  my  mother  de 
pends  upon  my  wages." 

"  You  ought  to  have  thought  of  this  before." 

"  He  aggravated  me,  sir,  so  that  I  wanted  to  pay 
him  off." 

"  As  to  that,  he  commenced  upon  me  the  moment  I 
came  into  the  store.  Bat  don't  turn  him  off,  if  you 
please,  sir,"  said  Bobby,  who  even  now  wished  no 
harm  to  his  discomfited  assailant.  "  He  will  do 
bettei  hereafter  :  won't  you,  fimmins  ?  " 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  98 

Thus  appealed  to,  Timmins,  though  he  did  not  rel- 
«h  so  direct  an  inquiry,  and  from  such  a  source,  was 
compelled  to  reply  in  the  affirmative ;  and  Mr.  Bay 
ard  graciously  remitted  the  sentence  he  had  passed 
against  the  offending  clerk. 

"  Now,  Robert,  you  will  come  over  to  my  house 
and  dine  with  me.  Ellen  will  be  delighted  to  see 
you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Bobby,  bashfully,  "  I 
have  been  to  dinner  "  —  referring  to  the  luncheon  he 
had  eaten  at  Brighton. 

"  But  you  must  go  to  the  house  with  me." 

"  I  should  be  very  glad  to  do  so,  sir,  but  I  came  on 
business.  I  will  stay  here  with  Mr.  Timmins  till 
you  come  back." 

The  truth  is,  he  had  heard  something  about  the  fiuts 
houses  of  the  city,  and  how  stylish  the  people  were, 
and  he  had  some  misgivings  about  venturing  into 
such  a  strange  and  untried  scene  as  the  parloi  of  a 
Boston  merchant. 

"  Indeed,  you  must  come  with  me.  Ellen  would 
Oever  forgive  you  or  me,  if  you  do  not  come." 

"  I  would  rather  rest  here  till  you  return,"  replied 


94  NOW  OK  NEVEK;  OR, 

Bobby,  still  willing  to  escape  the  fine  house  and  thi 
fine  folks.  "  I  walked  from  Riverdale,  sir,  and  I  am 
rather  tired." 

"  Walked  ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Bayard.  "  Had  yo« 
no  money  ?  " 

"  Yes.  sir,  enough  to  pay  my  passage ;  but  Dr. 
Franklin  says  that  '  a  penny  saved  is  a  penny  earned,' 
and  I  thought  I  would  try  it.  I  shall  get  rested  by 
the  time  you  return." 

"  But  you  must  go  with  me.  Timmins,  go  and  get 
a  carriage." 

Timmins  obeyed,  and  before  Mr.  Bayard  had  fin 
ished  asking  Bobby  how  all  the  people  in  Riverdale 
were,  the  carriage  was  at  the  door. 

There  was  no  backing  out  now,  and  our  hero  waa 
obliged  to  get  into  the  vehicle,  though  it  seemed  alto 
gether  too  fine  for  a  poor  boy  like  him.  Mr.  Bayard 
and  Mr.  Butler  (whom  the  former  had  invited  to  dine 
with  him)  seated  themselves  beside  him,  and  the  driver 
was  directed  to  set  them  down  at  No.  — ,  Chestnut 
Street,  where  they  soon  arrived. 

Though  my  readers  would,  no  doubt,  be  very  much 
amused  to  learn  how  carefully  Bobby  trod  the  velvet 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    HEIGHT.  95 

carpets,  how  he  stared  with  wonder  at  the  drapery 
curtains,  at  the  tall  mirrors,  the  elegant  chandeliers, 
and  the  fantastically  shaped  chairs  and  tables  that 
adorned  Mr.  Bayard's  parlor,  the  length  of  our  sto 
ry  does  not  permit  us  to  pause  over  these  trivial 
matters. 

When  Ellen  Bayard  was  informed  that  her  little 
deliverer  was  in  the  house,  she  rushed  into  the  parlor 
like  a  hoiden  school  girl,  grasped  both  his  hands, 
kissed  both  his  rosy  cheeks,  and  behaved  just  as 
though  she  had  never  been  to  a  boarding  school  in 
her  life. 

She  had  thought  a  great  deal  about  Bobby  since 
that  eventful  day,  and  the  more  she  thought  of  him, 
the  more  she  liked  him.  Her  admiration  of  him  was 
not  of  that  silly,  sentimental  character  which  moon 
struck  young  ladies  cherish  towards  those  immaculate 
young  men  who  have  saved  them  from  drowning  in  a 
horse  pond,  pulled  them  back  just  as  they  were  tum 
bling  over  a  precipice  two  thousand  five  hundred  feet 
high,  or  rescued  them  from  a  house  seven  storieg 
high,  bearing  them  down  a  ladder  seventy-five  odd 
feet  long.  The  fact  was,  Bobby  was  a  boy  of  thirteen, 


96  NOVT    OK    NEVER  ;    OR, 

and  there  was  no  chance  for  much  sentiment ;  so  the 
young  lady's  regard  was  real,  earnest,  and  lifelike. 

Ellen  said  a  great  many  very  handsome  things  ;  but 
I  am  sure  she  never  thought  of  such  a  thing  as  that  he 
would  run  away  with  her,  in  case  her  papa  was  un 
necessarily  obstinate.  She  was  very  glad  to  see  him, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  she  wished  Bobby  might  be  her 
brother,  it  would  be  so  glorious  to  have  such  a  noble 
little  fellow  always  with  her. 

Bobby  managed  the  dinner  much  better  than  he 
had  anticipated ;  for  Mr.  Bayard  insisted  that  he 
should  sit  down  with  them,  whether  he  ate  any  thing 
or  not.  But  the  Rubicon  passed,  our  hero  found  that 
he  had  a  pretty  smart  appetite,  and  did  full  justice  to 
the  viands  set  before  him.  Is  is  true  the  silver  forks, 
the  napkins,  the  finger  bowls,  and  other  articles  of 
luxury  and  show,  to  which  he  had  been  entirely  unac 
customed,  bothered  him  not  a  little ;  but  he  kept 
perfectly  cool,  and  carefully  observed  how  Mr.  Butler, 
who  sat  next  to  him,  handled  the  "  spoon  fork,"  what 
be  did  with  the  napkin  and  the  finger  bowl,  so  that, 
I  will  venture  to  say,  not  one  in  ten  would  have  sus 
pected  he  had  not  spent  his  life  in  the  parlor  of  a  mil- 
Uttnnaire. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIOHT.  9? 

-  Dinner  over,  the  party  returned  to  the  parlor, 
where  Bobby  unfolded  his  plan  for  the  future.  To 
make  his  story  intelligible,  he  was  obliged  to  tell 
them  all  about  Mr.  Hardhand. 

"  The 'old  wretch  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Bayard.  "  But, 
Robert,  you  must  let  me  advance  the  sixty  dollars,  to 
pay  Squire  Lee." 

"  No,  sir  ;  you  have  done  enough  in  that  way.  I 
have  given  my  note  for  the  money." 

"  Whew !  "  said  Mr.  Butler. 

"  And  I  shall  soon  earn  enough  to  pay  it." 

"  No  doubt  of  it.  You  are  a  lad  of  courage  and 
energy,  and  you  will  succeed  in  every  thing  you 
undertake." 

"  I  shall  want  you  to  trust  me  for  a  stock  of  books 
on  the  strength  of  old  acquaintance,"  continued 
Bobby,  who  had  now  grown  quite  bold,  and  felt  as 
much  at  home  in  the  midst  of  the  costly  furniture,  as 
he  did  in  the  "  living  room  "  of  the  old  black  house. 

"  You  shall  have  all  the  books  you  want." 

"  I  will  pay  for  them  as  soon  as  I  return.  The 
truth,  is,  Mr.  Bayard,  I  mean  to  be  independent.  I 
didn't  want  to  take  that  thirty-five  dollars,  though  I 
9 


98  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;    OR, 

dcn,'t  know  what  Mr.  Hardhand  would  have  done  t« 
us,  ic  I  hadn't." 

"  Ellen  said  I  ought  to  have  given  you  a  hundred, 
and  I  think  so  myself." 

"  I  am  glad  you  didn't.  Too  much  money  makes 
us  fat  and  lazy." 

Mr.  Bayard  laughed  at  the  easy  self-possession  of 
the  lad  —  at  his  big  talk ;  though,  big  as  ic  was,  it 
meant  something.  When  he  proposed  to  go  to  the 
store,  he  told  Bobby  he  had  better  stay  at  the  house 
and  rest  himself. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  want  to  start  out  to-morrow,  and  I 
must  get  ready  to-day." 

"  You  had  better  put  it  off  till  the  next  day  ;  you 
will  feel  more  like  it  then." 

"  Now  or  never,"  replied  Bobby.     "  That  is  my 
motto,  sir.     If  we  have  any  thing  to  do,  now  is  al 
ways  the  best   time  to    do   it.     Dr.  Franklin    says, 
*  Never  put  off  till  to-morrow  what  you  can  do  to 
day.'  " 

**  Right,  Robert '  you  shall  have  your  own  way 
I  wish  my  clerks  would  adopt  some  of  Dr.  Franklin's 
wise  saws.  1  should  be  a  great  deal  better  off  in  the 
course  of  a  year  if  thev  would-" 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

IN    WHICH    BOBBY    OPENS    VARIOUS    ACCOUNTS,  ANt 
WINS    HIS    FIRST    VICTORY. 

"  Now,  Bobby,  I  understand  your  plan,"  said  Mr. 
Bayard,  when  they  reached  the  store ;  "  but  the  de 
tails  must  be  settled.  Where  do  you  intend  to  go  ?  " 

"  I  hardly  know,  sir.  I  suppose  I  can  sell  bookj 
almost  any  where." 

"  Very  true  ;  but  in  some  places  much  better  than 
in  others." 

Mr.  Bayard  mentioned  a  large  town  about  eighteen 
miles  from  the  city,  in  which  he  thought  a  good  trade 
might  be  carried  on,  and  Bobby  at  once  decided  tc 
adopt  the  suggestion. 

"  You  can  make  this  place  your  head  quarters  for 
the  week  ;  if  books  do  not  sell  well  right  in  tne 
rillage,  why,  you  can  go  out  a  little  way,  for  the 
country  in  the  vicinity  is  peopled  by  intelligent 


fOO  NOW  OR  NEVER;    OH, 

formers,  who  are  well  off,  and  who  can  afford  to  buy 
'ooks." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  that ;  but  what  shall  I  take 
rith  me,  sir  ?  " 

"  There  is  a  new  book  just  published,  called  '  The 
Wayfarer,'  which  is  going  to  have  a  tremendous  run. 
It  has  been  advertised  in  advance  all  over  the  country, 
BG  that  you  will  find  a  ready  sale  for  it.  You  will 
get  it  there  before  any  one  else,  and  have  the  market 
all  to  yourself." 

"  The  Wayfarer?     I  have  heard  of  it  myself." 

"  You  shall  take  fifty  copies  with  you,  and  if  you 
find  that  you  shall  want  more,  write,  and  I  will  send 
them." 

"  But  I  cannot  carry  fifty  copies." 

"  You  must  take  the  cars  to  B ,  and  have  a 

trunk  or  box  to  carry  your  books  in.  I  have  a  stout 
trunk  down  cellar  which  you  shall  have." 

"  I  will  pay  for  it,  sir/' 

"  Never  mind  that,  Bobby ;  and  you  will  want  a 
small  valise  or  carpet  bag  to  carry  your  books  from 

house  to  house.     I  will  lend  you  one." 

» 

"  You  are  very  kind,  sir  ;  I  did  not  mean  to  ash 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY     BKIGHT.        lOl 

any  favors  of  you  except  to  trust  me  for  the  books 
until  my  return." 

"  All  right,  Bobby." 

Mr.  Bayard  called  the  porter  and  ordered  him  to 
bring  up  the  trunk,  in  which  he  directed  Mr.  Timmins 
to  pack  fifty  "  Wayfarers." 

"  Now,  how  much  will  these  books  cost  me  apiece  ?  " 
asked  Bobby. 

"  The  retail  price  is  one  dollar ;  the  wholesale  price 
is  one  third  off;  and  you  shall  have  them  at  what 
they  cost  me." 

"Sixty-seven  cents,"  added  Bobby.  "That  will 
give  me  a  profit  of  thirty-three  cents  on  each, 
book." 

"  Just  so." 

"  Perhaps  Mr.  Timmins  will  sell  me  one  of  those 
blank  books  now ;  for  I  like  to  have  things  down  in 
black  and  white." 

*'  I  will  furnish  you  with  something  much  better 
than  that ;  "  and  Mr.  Bayard  left  the  counting  room. 

In  a  moment  he  returned  with  a  handsome  pocket 
memorandum  book,  which  he  presented  to  the  little 
merchant. 

9* 


102  NOW     OK    NEVER  ;    OK, 

'*  But  I  don't  like  to  take  it  unless  you  will  let  me 
J*ay  for  it,"  said  Bobby,  hesitating. 

"  Never  mind  it,  my  young  friend.  Now  you  can 
§it  down  at  my  desk  and  open  your  accounts.  I  like 
to  see  boys  methodical,  and  there  is  nothing  like 
keeping  accounts  to  make  one  accurate.  Keep  your 
books  posted  up,  and  you  will  know  where  you  are 
at  any  time." 

"  I  intend  to  keep  an  account  of  all  I  spend  and 
all  I  receive,  if  it  is  no  more  than  a  cent." 

"  Right,  my  little  man.  Have  you  ever  studied 
book-keeping  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  I  suppose  I  haven't ;  but  there  was  a 
page  of  accounts  in  the  back  part  of  the  arithmetic  I 
studied,  and  I  got  a  pretty  good  idea  of  the  thing 
from  that.  All  the  money  received  goes  on  one  side, 
and  all  the  money  paid  out  goes  on  the  other." 

"  Exactly  so ;  in  this  book  you  had  better  open  a 
book  account  first.  If  you  wish,  I  will  show  you  how." 

"  Thank  you,  sir ;  I  should  be  very  glad  to  have 
you ;  "  and  Bobby  opened  the  memorandum  book,  and 
seated  himself  at  the  desk. 

**  Write  '  Book  Account,'  at  the  top  of  the  pages, 


THE   ADVENTITSES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         103 

one  word  on  each.  Very  well.  Now  write  '  To  fiftj 
copies  of  Wayfarer,  at  sixty-seven  cents,  833.50,'  on 
*he  left  hand  page,  or  debit  side  of  the  account." 

"  I  am  not  much  of  a  writer,"  said  Bobby,  apolo 
getically. 

"  You  will  improve.  Now,  each  day  you  will 
credit  the  amount  of  sales  on  the  right  hand  page,  or 
credit  side  of  the  account ;  so,  when  you  have  sold 
out,  the  balance  due  your  debit  side  will  be  the  profit 
on  the  lot.  Do  you  understand  it  ?  " 

Bobby  thought  a  moment  before  he  could  see 
through  it ;  but  his  brain  was  active,  and  he  soon 
managed  the  idea. 

"Now  you  want  a  personal  account;"  and  Mr. 
Bayard  explained  to  him  how  to  make  this  out. 

He  then  instructed  him  to  enter  on  the  debit  side 
all  he  spent  for  travel,  board,  freight,  and  other 
charges.  The  next  was  the  "  profit  and  loss  "  account, 
which  was  to  show  him  the  net  profit  of  the  business. 

Our  hero,  who  had  a  decided  taste  for  accounts, 
was  very  much  pleased  with  this  employment ;  and 
when  the  accounts  were  all  opened,  he  regarded  them 
with  a  grreat  deal  of  satisfaction.  He  lomred  to  com- 


104  NOW  OB  WEVJEK;   OK, 

jnence  his  operations,  if  it  were  only  for  the  pleasure 
of  making  the  entries  in  this  book. 

"  One  thing  I  forgot,"  said  he,  as  he  seized  the  pen, 
and  under  the  cash  account  entered,  "  To  Cash  from 
mother,  $1.00."  "Now  I  am  all  right,  I  believe." 

"  I  think  you  are.  Now,  the  cars  leave  at  seven 
in  the  morning.  Can  you  be  ready  for  a  start  as 
early  as  that?  "  asked  Mr.  Bayard. 

"  O,  yes,  sir,  I  hope  so.  I  get  up  at  half  past  four 
at  home." 

"  Very  well ;  my  small  valise  is  at  the  house ;  but 
I  believe  every  thing  else  is  ready.  Now,  I  have  som? 
business  to  attend  to ;  and  if  you  will  amuse  your 
self  for  an  hour  or  two,  we  will  go  home  then." 

"  I  shall  want  a  lodging  place  when  I  am  in  the 
city ;  perhaps  some  of  your  folks  can  direct  me  to 
one  where  they  won't  charge  too  much." 

"  As  to  that,  Bobby,  you  must  go  to  my  house 
whenever  you  are  in  the  city." 

"  Law,  sir !  you  live  so  grand,  I  couldn't  think  of 
going  to  your  house.  I  am  only  a  poor  boy  from  the 
country,  and  I  don't  know  how  to  behave  myself 
among  such  nice  folks." 


IBJE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BKIGHT.         J  OA 

"  You  will  do  very  well,  Bobby.  Ellen  would 
never  forghe  me  if  I  let  you  go  any  where  else.  So 
that  is  settled ;  you  will  go  to  my  house.  Now,  you 
may  sit  here,  or  walk  out  and  see  the  sights." 

"  If  you  please,  sir,  if  Mr.  Timmins  will  let  me  look 
at  some  of  the  books,  I  shouldn't  wish  for  any  thing 
better.  I  should  like  to  look  at  the  Wayfarer,  so 
that  I  shall  know  how  to  recommend  it." 

"  Mr.  Timmins  will  let  you,"  replied  Mr.  Bayard, 
as  he  touched  the  spring  of  a  bell  on  his  desk. 

The  dapper  clerk  came  running  into  the  counting- 
room  to  attend  the  summons  of  his  employer. 

"  Mr.  Timmins,"  continued  Mr.  Bayard,  with  a  mis 
chievous  smile,  "  bring  Mr.  Bright  a  copy  of  '  The 
Wayfarer.'  " 

Mr.  Timmins  was  astonished  to  hear  "  Country  " 
called  "  Mister,"  astonished  to  hear  his  employer  call 
him  "  Mister,"  and  Bobby  was  astonished  to  hear 
himself  called  "  Mister ;  "  nevertheless,  our  hero  en 
joyed  the  joke. 

The  clerk  brought  the  book  ;  and  Bobby  proceeded 
to  give  it  a  thorough,  critical  examination.  He  read  the 
preface,  the  table  of  contents,  and  several  chapters 
of  the  work,  before  Mr.  Bayard  was  ready  to  go  home. 


106  NOW  OK  NEVEK;  OK, 

"  How  do  you  like  it,  Bobby  ? "  asked  the  book 
seller. 

"  First  rate." 

"  You  may  take  that  copy  in  your  hand ;  you  will 
want  to  finish  it." 

"  Thank  you,  sir  ;  I  will  be  careful  of  it." 

"  You  may  keep  it.  Let  that  be  the  beginning  of 
youi  own  private  library." 

His  own  private  library  !  Bobby  had  not  got  far 
enough  to  dream  of  such  a  thing  yet ;  but  he  thanked 
Mr.  Bayard,  and  put  the  book  under  his  arm. 

After  tea,  Ellen  proposed  to  her  father  that  they 
should  all  go  to  the  Museum.  Mr.  Bayard  acceded, 
and  our  hero  was  duly  amazed  at  the  drolleries  per 
petrated  there.  He  had  a  good  time  ;  but  it  was  so 
late  when  he  went  to  bed,  that  he  was  a  little  fearful 
lest  he  should  oversleep  himself  in  the  morning. 

He  did  not,  however,  and  was  down  in  the  parlor 
before  any  of  the  rest  of  the  family  were  stirring.  An 
early  breakfast  was  prepared  for  him,  at  which  Mr. 
Bayard,  who  intended  to  see  him  off,  joined  him. 
Depositing  his  little  bundle  and  the  copy  of. "  The 
Wayfarer"  in  the  valise  provided  for  him,  they  walked 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.    107 

to  the  store.  The  porter  wheeled  the  trunk  down  to 
the  railroad  station,  though  Bobby  insisted  upon  do 
ing  it  himself. 

The  bookseller  saw  him  and  his  baggage  safely 
aboard  of  the  cars,  gave  him  a  ticket,  and  then  bade 
him  an  affectionate  adieu.  In  a  little  while  Bobby 
was  flying  over  the  rail,  and  at  about  eight  o'clock, 
reached  B . 

The  station  master  kindly  permitted  him  to  deposit 
his  trunk  in  the  baggage  room,  and  to  leave  it  there 
for  the  remainder  of  the  week. 

Taking  a  dozen  of  the  books  from  the  trunk,  and 
placing  them  in  his  valise,  he  sallied  out  upon  his 
mission.  It  must  be  confessed  that  his  heart  was 
filled  with  a  tumult  of  emotions.  The  battle  of  life 
was  before  him.  He  was  on  the  field,  sword  in  hand, 
ready  to  plunge  into  the  contest.  It  was  victory  or 
defeat. 

"  March  on,  brave  youth !  the  field  of  strife 

With  peril  fraught  before  thee  lies ; 
March  on !  the  battle  plain  of  life 
Shall  yield  thee  yet  a  glorious  prize  " 

It  was  of  no  use  to  shrink  then,  even  if  he  had  fell 


108  NOW  OK  NEVER;    on, 

disposed  to  do  so.  He  was  prepared  to  be  rebuffed, 
to  be  insulted,  to  be  turned  away  from  the  doors  at 
which  he  should  seek  admission;  but  he  was  deter 
mined  to  conquer. 

He  had  reached  a  house  at  which  he  proposed  to 
offer  "  The  Wayfarer  "  for  sale.  His  heart  went  pit 
pat,  pit  pat,  and  he  paused  before  the  door. 

"  Now  or  never !  "  exclaimed  he,  as  he  swung  open 
the  garden  gate,  and  made  his  way  up  to  the  door. 

He  felt  some  misgivings.  It  was  so  new  and  strange 
to  him  that  he  could  hardly  muster  sufficient  resolu 
tion  to  proceed  farther.  But  his  irresolution  was  of 
only  a  moment's  duration. 

"  Now  or  never !  "  and  he  gave  a  vigorous  knock 
at  the  door. 

It  was  opened  by  an  elderly  lady,  whose  physiogno 
my  did  not  promise  much. 

"  Good  morning,  ma'am.  Can  I  sell  you  a  copy  of 
'The  Wayfarer  to-day?  a  new  book,  just  pub 
lished." 

\ 

"  No  ;  I  don't  want  none  of  your  books.  There's 
more  pedlers  round  the  country  now  than  you  coulcf 
sha,ke  a  stick  at  hi  a  mouth,"'  replied  the  old  lady 
petulantly 


THE   ADYEXTlTKES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         109 

•'  It  is  a  very  interesting  book,  ma'am  ;  has  an  ex 
cellent  moral."  Bobby  had  read  the  preface,  as  I 
before  remarked.  "  It  will  suit  you,  ma'am ;  for 
you  look  just  like  a  lady  who  wants  to  read  some 
thing  with  a  moral." 

Bravo,  Bobby  !  The  lady  concluded  that  her  face 
had  a  moral  expression,  and  she  was  pleased  with  the 
idea. 

"  Let  me  see  it ; "  and  she  asked  Bobby  to  walk 
in  and  be  seated,  while  she  went  for  her  spectacles. 

As  she  was  looking  over  the  book,  our  hero  went 
into  a  more  elaborate  recommendation  of  its  merits. 
He  was  sure  it  would  interest  the  young  and  the  old ; 
it  taught  a  good  lesson;  it  had  elegant  engravings  ; 
the  type  was  large,  which  would  suit  her  eyes  ;  it  was 
well  printed  and  bound ;  and  finally,  it  was  cheap  at 
one  dollar. 

"  I'll  take  it,"  said  the  old  lady. 

"  Thank  you,  ma'am." 

Bobby's  first  victory  was  achieved 

"  Rave  you  got  a  dollar? "  asked  the  lady,  as  she 
handed  him  a  two  dollar  bill. 

•'  Yes,  ma'am;  "  and  he  gave  her  his  only  dollar, 
10  ) 


110  NOW  OR  NEVER;  OR, 

and  put  the  two  in  its  place,  prouder  than  a  king  who 
has  conquered  an  empire.     "  Thank  you,  ma'am." 

Bidding  the  lady  a  polite  good  morning,  he  left  the 
house,  encouraged  by  his  success  to  go  forward  in  his 
mission  with  un diminished  hope. 


THE    A.DV  E.XTUKES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         Ill 


CHAPTER     K. 

IV    WHICH    BOBBY    IS    A    LITTLE   TOO    SMART. 

THE  clouds  were  rolled  back,  and  Bobby  no  longer 
had  a  doubt  as  to  the  success  of  his  undertaking.  I: 
requires  but  a  little  sunshine  to  gladden  the  heart,  and 
the  influence  of  his  first  success  scattered  all  the  mis 
givings  he  had  cherished. 

Two  New  England  shillings  is  undoubtedly  a  very 
small  sum  of  money ;  but  Bobby  had  made  two  shil 
lings,  and  he  would  not  have  considered  himself  more 
fortunate  if  some  unknown  relative  had  left  him  a 
fortune.  It  gave  him  confidence  in  his  powers,  and 
as  he  walked  away  from  the  house,  he  reviewed  the 
circumstances  of  his  first  sale. 

The  old  lady  had  told  him  at  first  she  did  not  wish 
to  buy  a  book,  and,  moreover,  had  spoken  rather 
contemptuously  of  the  craft  to  which  he  had  now  the 
honor  to  belong.  H  ;  gave  himself  the  credit  of 


112  KOW    OR    NEVEH  ;    OS, 

having  conquered  the  old  lady's  prejudices.  He  had 
sold  her  a  book  in  spite  of  her  evident  intention  not 
to  purchase.  In  short,  he  had,  as  we  have  before 
eaid,  won  a  glorious  victory,  and  he  congratulated 
himself  accordingly. 

But  it  was  of  no  use  to  waste  time  in  useless  self- 
glorification,  and  Bobby  turned  from  the  past  to  the 
future.  There  were  forty-nine  more  books  to  be  sold ; 
so  that  the  future  was  forty-nine  times  as  big  as  the 
past. 

He  saw  a  shoemaker's  shop  ahead  of  him  ;  and  he 
was  debating  with  himself  whether  he  should  enter 
and  offer  his  books  for  sale.  It  would  do  no  harm, 
though  he  had  but  slight  expectations  of  doing  any 
thing. 

There  were  three  men  at  work  in  the  shop  —  one 
of  them  a  middle-aged  man,  the  other  two  young  men. 
They  looked  like  persons  of  intelligence,  and  as  soon 
as  Bobby  saw  them  his  hopes  grew  stronger. 

"  Can  I  sell  you  any  books  to-day  r "  asked  the 
little  merchant,  as  he  crossed  the  threshold. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know ;  that  depends  upon  how 
tmart  you  are,"  replied  the  eldest  of  the  men.  "  It 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         113 

a  pretty  smart  fellow  to  sell  any  tiling  in  this 
shop." 

"  Then  I  hope  to  sell  each  of  you  a  book,"  added 
Bobby,  laughing  at  the  badinage  of  the  shoemaker. 

Opening  his  valise  he  took  out  three  copies  of  his 
book,  and  politely  handed  one  to  each  of  the  men. 

"  It  isn't  every  book  pedler  that  comes  along  who 
offers  you  such  a  work  as  that.  '  The  Wayfarer  '  is 
decidedly  the  book  of  the  season." 

"You  don't  say  so!"  said  the  oldest  shoemaker, 
with  a  laugh.  "  Every  pedler  that  comes  along  uses 
those  words,  precisely." 

"  Do  they?     They  steal  my  thunder  then." 

"  You  are  an  old  one." 

"  Only  thirteen.  I  was  born  where  they  don't  fas« 
ten  the  door  with  a  boiled  carrot." 

"  What  do  they  fasten  them  with  :  " 

"  They  don't  fasten  them  at  all." 

"  There  are  no  book  pedlers  round  there,  then ;  * 
and  all  the  shoemakers  laughed  heartily  at  this  smart 
sally. 

"  No  ;  they  are  all  shoemakers  in  cur  town." 

"  You  can  take  my  hat,  boy." 
10* 


114  NOW  OK  NEYEK;  OB, 

"  You  will  want  it  to  put  your  head  in ,  but  I  will 
take  one  dollar  for  that  book  instead." 

The  man  laughed,  took  out  his  wallet,  and  handed 
Bobby  the  dollar,  probably  quite  as  much  because  ha 
had  a  high  appreciation  of  his  smartness,  as  from  any 
desire  to  possess  the  book. 

"  Won't  you  take  one  ?  "  asked  Bobby,  appealing 
to  another  of  the  men,  who  was  apparently  not  more 
than  twenty-four  years  of  age. 

"  No  ;  I  can't  read,"  replied  he,  roguishly. 

"  Let  your  wife  read  it  to  you  then." 

"  My  wife  ?  " 

*'  Certainly ;  she  knows  how  to  read,  I  will  war 
rant." 

"  How  do  you  know  I  have  got  a  wife  ?  " 

"  O,  well,  a  fellow  as  good  looking  and  good  na- 
tured  as  you  are  could  not  have  resisted  till  this 
time." 

"  Has  you,  Tom,"  added  the  oldest  shoemaker. 

"  I  cave  in ;  "  and  he  handed  over  the  dollar,  and 
laid  the  book  upon  his  bench. 

Bobby  looked  at  the  third  man  with  some  interest. 
He  had  said  nothing,  and  scarcely  heeded  the  fun 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    Be  8BY    BRIGHT.         115 

which  was  passing  between  the  little  merchant  and 
bis  companions.  He  was  apparently  absorbed  in  his 
examination  of  the  book.  He  was  a  different  kind 
of  person  from  the  others,  and  Bobby's  instinctive 
knowledge  of  human  nature  assured  him  that  he  was 
not  to  be  gained  by  flattery  or  by  smart  sayings ;  so 
he  placed  himself  in  front  of  him,  and  patiently  waited 
in  silence  for  him  to  complete  his  examination. 

"  You  will  find  that  he  is  a  hard  one,"  put  in  one 
of  the  others. 

Bobby  made  no  reply,  and  the  two  men  who  had 
bought  books  resumed  their  work.  For  five  minutes 
our  hero  stood  waiting  for  the  man  to  finish  his  in 
vestigation  into  the  merits  of  "  The'  Wayfarer." 
Something  told  him  not  to  say  any  thing  to  this 
person ;  and  -he  had  some  doubts  about  his  pur 
chasing. 

"  I  will  take  one,"  said  the  last  shoemaker,  as  he 
handed  Bobby  the  dollar. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  gentlemen,"  said  Bob 
by,  as  he  closed  his  valise.  "  When  I  come  this  way 
again  I  shall  certainly  call." 

"  Do  ;  you  have  done  what  no  oth'^  pedler  evej 
;Md  in  this  shop." 


/16  NOW  on  XKVEH;  OH, 

*  I  shall  take  no  credit  to  myself.  The  fact  is,  you 
sue  men  of  intelligence,  and  you  want  good  books." 

Bobby  picked  up  his  valise  and  left  the  shop,  satis 
fied  with  those  who  occupied  it,  and  satisfied  with 
himself. 

"  Eight  shillings  !  "  exclaimed  he,  when  he  got 
into  the  road.  "  Pretty  good  hour's  work,  I  should 
say." 

Bobby  trudged  along  till  he  came  to  a  very  large, 
elegant  house,  evidently  dwelt  in  by  one  of  the  nabobs 

of  B .  Inspired  by  past  'successes,  he  walked 

boldly  up  to  the  front  door,  and  rang  the  bell. 

"  Is  Mr.  Whiting  in  ?  "  asked  Bobby,  who  had  read 
the  name  on  the  door  plate. 

"  Colonel  Whiting  is  in,"  replied  the  servant,  who 
had  opened  the  door. 

**  I  should  like  to  see  him  for  a  moment,  if  he  isn't 
busy." 

"  Walk  in  ;  "  and  for  some  reason  or  other  the  ser- 
Vi.nt  chuckled  a  great  deal  as  she  admitted  him. 

She  conducted  him  to  a  large,  elegantly  furnished 
parlor,  where  Bobby  proceeded  to  take  out  his  books 
for  the  inspection  of  the  nabob,  whom  the  servant 
promised  to  send  to  the  parlor. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BKIGHT.         117 

In  a  moment  Colonel  Whiting  entered.  He  was  a 
large,  fat  man,  about  fifty  years  old.  He  looked  at 
the  little  book  merchant  with  a  frown  that  would 
have  annihilated  a  boy  less  spunky  than  our  hero. 
Bobby  was  not  a  little  inflated  by  the  successes  of  the 
morning,  and  if  Julius  Caesar  or  Napoleon  Bonaparte 
had  stood  before  him  then,  he  would  not  have  flinched 
a  hair  —  much  less  in  the  presence  of  no  greater 
magnate  than  the  nabob  of  B . 

"Good  morning,  Colonel  Whiting.  I  hope  you 
are  well  this  beautiful  morning,"  Bobby  began. 

I  must  confess  I  think  this  was  a  little  too  familiar 
for  a  boy  of  thirteen  to  a  gentleman  of  fifty,  whom  he 
had  never  seen  before  in  his  life ;  but  it  must  be  re 
membered  that  Bobby  had  done  a  great  deal  the  week 
before,  that  on  the  preceding  night  he  had  slept  in 
Chestnut  Street,  and  that  he  had  just  sold  four  copies 
of  "  The  Wayfarer."  He  was  inclined  to  be  smart, 
and  some  folks  hate  smart  boys. 

The  nabob  frowned ;  his  cheek  reddened  with  an 
ger  ;  but  he  did  not  condescend  to  make  any  reply  to 
the  smart  speech. 

"  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  call  upon  you  this 


118  NOW  OE  NEVER;  OR, 

morning,  to  see  if  you  did  not  wish  to  purchase  a 
copy  of  'The  Wayfarer*  —  a  new  book  just  issued 
from  the  press,  which  people  say  is  to  he  the  book  of 
the  season." 

My  young  readers  need  not  suppose  this  was  an 
Impromptu  speech,  for  Bobby  had  studied  upon  it  all 
the  time  he  was  coming  from  Boston  in  the  cars.  It 
would  be  quite  natural  for  a  boy  who  had  enjoyed  no 
greater  educational  advantages  than  our  hero  to  con 
sider  how  he  should  address  people  into  whose  pres 
ence  his  calling  would  bring  him ;  and  he  had  pre 
pared  several  little  addresses  of  this  sort,  for  the 
several  different  kinds  of  people  whom  he  expected 
to  encounter.  The  one  he  had  just  "got  off"  was 
designed  for  the  "  upper  crust." 

When  he  had  delivered  the  speech,  he  approached 
the  indignant,  frowning  nabob,  and  with  a  low  bow, 
offered  him  a  copy  of  "  The  Wayfarer." 

"  Boy,"  said  Colonel  Whiting,  raising  his  arm  with 

* 

majestic  dignity,  and  pointing  to  the  door,  —  "  boy, 
do  you  see  that  door  ?  " 

Bobby  looked  at  the  door,  and,  somewhat  aston 
ished,  replied  that  he  did  see  it,  that  it  was  a  very 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BKIQHT.          119 

handsome  door,  and  he  would  inquire  whether  it  was 
black  walnut,  or  only  painted  in  imitation  thereof. 

"  Do  you  see  that  door  ?  "  thundered  the  nabob, 
swelling  with  rage  at  the  cool  impudence  of  the  boy 

"  Certainly  I  do,  sir ;  my  eyesight  is  excellent." 

"  Then  use  it !  " 

"  Thank  you,  sir ;  I  have  no  use  for  it.  Probaoly 
tt  will  be  of  more  service  to  you  than  to  me." 

"  Will  you  clear  out,  or  shall  I  kick  you  out  ? " 
gasped  the  enraged  magnate  of  B . 

"  I  will  save  you  that  trouble,  sir;  I  will  go,  sir. 
I  see  we  have  both  made  a  mistake." 

"  Mistake ?  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  you 
young  puppy  ?  You  are  a  little  impudent,  thieving 
scoundrel  !  " 

"  That's  youi  mistake,  sir.  I  took  you  for  a  gen 
tleman,  sir ;  and  that  was  my  mistake." 

"  Ha,  ha,  ha  !  "  laughed  a  sweet,  musical  voice,  and 
at  that  moment  a  beautiful  young  lady  rushed  up  to 
the  angry  colonel,  and  threw  her  arms  around  his 
neck. 

"  The  jade  ! "  muttered  he. 

**  ~.  have  caught  you  in  a  passion  again,  uncle ; H 


120  NOW    OK    NEVER  ;    OR, 

and  the  lady  kissed  the  old  gentleman's  anger-red 
dened  cheek,  which  seemed  to  restore  him  at  once  to 
himself. 

"  It  was  enough  to  make  a  minister  swear,"  said 
he,  in  apology. 

"  No,  it  wasn't,  uncle  ;  the  boy  was  a  little  pert,  it 
is  true  ;  but  you  ought  to  have  laughed  at  him,  in 
stead  of  getting  angry.  I  heard  the  whole  of  it." 

"  Pert  ?  "  said  Bobby  to  himself.  "  What  the 
deuse  does  she  mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  Very  well,  you  little  minx ;  I  will  pay  the  pen 
alty." 

"  Come  here,  Master  Pert,"  said  the  lady  to 
Bobby. 

Bobby  bowed,  approached  the  lady,  and  began  to 
feel  very  much  embarrassed. 

"  My  uncle,"  she  continued,  "  is  one  of  the  best 
hearted  men  in  the  world  —  ain't  you,  uncle?  " 

"  Go  on,  you  jade  !  " 

"  I  love  him,  as  I  would  my  own  father ;  but  he 
will  sometimes  get  into  a  passion.  Now,  you  pro 
voked  him." 

"  Indeed,  ma'am,  I  hadn't  the  least  idea  of  saying 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BKIGHT.         \e4k 
* 

any  thing  uncivil,"  pleaded  Bobby.     "  I  studied  to  be 
as  polite  as  possible." 

"  I  dare  say.  You  were  too  important,  too  pomp 
ous,  for  a  boy  to  an  old  gentleman  like  uncle,  who  ia 
really  one  of  tbe  best  men  in  the  world.  Now,  if  you 
hadn't  studied  to  be  polite,  you  would  have  done  very 
well." 

"  Indeed,  ma'am,  I  am  a  poor  boy,  trying  to  make 
a  little  money  to  help  my  mother.  I  am  sure  I  meant 
no  harm." 

"  I  know  you  didn't.  So  you  are  selling  books  to 
help  your  mother  ?  " 

"  Yes,  ma'am." 

She  inquired  still  further  into  the  little  merchant's 
history,  and  seemed  to  be  very  much  interested  in 
him. 

In  a  frolic,  a  few  days  before,  Bobby  learned  from 
her,  Colonel  Whiting  had  agreed  to  pay  any  penalty 
she  might  name,  the  nest  time  he  got  into  a  passion. 

"  Now,  young  man,  what  book  have  you  to  sell  ?  " 
asked  the  lady. 

"  '  The  Wayfarer.'  " 

"  How  many  have  you  in  your  valise  ?  " 
11 


122  NOW    OR    NEVER;    OR, 

t 

"  Eight." 

"  Very  well ;  now,  uncle,  I  decree,  as  the  penalty 
of  your  indiscretion,  that  you  purchase  the  whole 
stock." 

"  I  submit." 

"  '  The  "Wayfarer*  promises  to  be  an  excellent  book  : 
and  I  can  name  at  least  half  a  dozen  persons  who  will 
thank  you  for  a  copy,  uncle." 

Colonel  Whiting  paid  Bobby  eight  dollars,  who  left 
the  contents  of  his  valise  OP  the  centre  table,  and 
then  departed,  astounded  at  his  good  fortune,  an  3 
fully  reso  ved  never  to  be  too  srnari 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT    128 


CHAPTER     XI. 

m     WHICH     BOBBY     STRIKES    A     BALANCE,    AND     BK- 
TURNS    TO     RITERDALE. 

OUR  hero  had  learned  a  lesson  which  experience 
alone  could  teach  him.  The  consciousness  of  that 
"  something  within  him  "  inclined  him  to  be  a  little 
too  familiar  with  his  elders ;  but  then  it  gave  him 
confidence  in  himself,  and  imparted  courage  to  go 
forward  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  mission.  His 
interview  with  Colonel  Whiting  and  the  gentle  but 
plain  rebuke  of  his  niece  had  set  him  right,  and  he 
realized  that,  while  he  was  doing  a  man's  work,  he 
was  still  a  boy.  He  had  now  a  clearer  perception  of 
what  is  due  to  the  position  and  dignity  of  those  upon 
whom  fortune  has  smiled. 

Bobby  wanted  to  be  a  man,  and  it  is  not  strange 
that  he  should  sometimes  fancy  he  was  a  man.  He 
had  an  idea,  too,  that  'ill  men  are  born  free  ai  J 


I2t  NOW  OR  NEVER;  OR, 

equal ; "  and  he  could  not  exactly  see  why  a  nabob 
was  entitled  to  any  more  respect  and  consideration 
than  a  poor  man.  It  was  a  lesson  he  was  compelled 
to  learn,  though  some  folks  live  out  their  lifetimes 
without  ever  finding  out  that. 

"  "Pis  wealth,  good  sir,  makes  honorable  mem" 
Some  people  think  a  rich  man  is  no  better  than  a 
poor  man,  except  so  far  as  he  behaves  himself  better. 
It  is  strange  how  stupid  some  people  are  ! 
.  Bobby  had  no  notion  of  cringing  to  any.  man,  and 
he  felt  as  independent  as  the  Declaration  of  Independ 
ence  itself.  But  then  the  beautiful  lady  had  told  him 
that  he  was  pert  and  forward ;  and  when  he  thought 
it  over,  he  was  willing  to  believe  she  was  right. 
Colonel  Whiting  was  an  old  man,  compared  with 
himself;  and  he  had  some  faith,  at  least  in  theory,  in 
the  Spartan  virtue  of  respect  for  the  aged.  Pruu- 

ably  the    nabob  of  B would   have  objected  to 

being  treated  with  respect  on  account  of  his  age  ;  and 
Bobby  would  have  been  equally  unwilling  to  acknowl 
edge  that  he  treated  him  with  peculiar  respect  on 
account  of  his  wealth  or  position. 

Perhaps  the  little  merchant  had  an  instinctive  per 


THE    ADVENTTTB  iS    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  25 

ception  of  expediency  —  that  he  should  sell  more 
books  by  being  less  familiar :  at  any  rate  he  deter 
mined  never  again  to  use  the  flowery  speeches  he  had 
arranged  for  the  upper  crust. 

He  had  sold  a  dozen  books  ;  and  possibly  this  fact 
made  him  more  willing  to  compromise  the  matter  than 
he  would  otherwise  have  been.  This  was,  after  all, 
the  great  matter  for  congratulation,  and  with  a  light 
heart  he  hurried  back  to  the  railroad  station  to  pro 
cure  another  supply. 

We  cannot  follow  him  into  every  house  where  his 
calling  led  him.  He  was  not  always  as  fortunate  as 
in  the  instances  we  have -mentioned.  Sometimes  all 
his  arguments  were  unavailing,  and  after  he  had  spent 
half  an  hour  of  valuable  time  in  setting  forth  the 
merits  of  "  The  Wayfarer,"  he  was  compelled  to  retire 
without  having  effected  a  sale.  Sometimes,  too,  he 
was  rudely  repulsed  ;  hard  epithets  were  applied  to 
him ;  old  men  and  old  women,  worried  out  by  the 
continued  calls  of  pedlers,  sneered  at  him,  or  shut  the 
door  in  his  face  ;  but  Bobby  was  not  disheartened. 
He  persevered,  and  did  not  allow  these  little  trials  to 
discompose  or  discourage  him. 
11  * 


126  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;     OH, 

By  one  o'clock  on  the  first  day  of  his  service  he 
had  sold  eighteen  books,  which  far  exceeded  even  his 
most  sanguine  expectations.  By  this  time  he  began 
to  feel  the  want  of  his  dinner ;  but  there  was  no 
tavern  or  eating  house  at  hand,  and  he  could  not 
think  of  leaving  the  harvest  to  return  to  the  railroad 
station ;  so  he  bought  a  sheet  of  gingerbread  and  a 
piece  of  cheese  at  a  store,  and  seating  himself  near  a 
brook  by  the  side  of  the  road,  he  bolted  his  simple 
meal,  as  boys  are  very  apt  to  do  when  they  are  ex 
cited. 

When  he  had  finished,  he  took  out  his  account 
book,  and  entered,  "  Dinri*er,  10  cents."  Resuming 
his  business,  he  disposed  of  the  remaining  six  books 
in  his  valise  by  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  and  was 
obliged  to  return  for  another  supply. 

About  six  o'clock  he  entered  the  house  of  a  me 
chanic,  just  as  the  family  were  sitting  down  to  tea. 
He  recommended  his  book  with  so  much  energy,  that 
the  wife  of  the  mechanic  took  a  fancy  to  him,  and 
aot  only  purchased  one.  but  invited  him  to  tea, 
Bobby  accepted  the  invitation,  and  in  the  course  of 
ihe  meal,  the  good  lacly  drew  from  him  the  details 


THE   ADYEXTITRES    OF    BOBBT    BRIGHT.         127 

af  his  history,  which,  he  very  modestly  related,  fin 
though  he  sometimes  fancied  himself  a  man,  he  was 
not  the  boy  to  boast  of  his  exploits.  ,His  host  was 
BO  much  pleased  with  him,  that  he  begged  him  to 
spend  the  night  with  them.  Bobby  had  been  think 
ing  how  and  where  he  should  spend  the  night,  and  the 
matter  had  given  him  no  little  concern.  He  did  not 
wish  to  go  to  the  hotel,  for  it  looked  like  a  very 
smart  house,  and  he  reasoned  that  he  should  have  to 
pay  pretty  roundly  for  accommodations  there.  These 
high  prices  would  eat  up  his  profits,  and  he  serious 
ly  deliberated  whether  it  would  not  be  better  for  him 
to  sleep  under  a  tree  than  pay  fifty  cents  for  a  lodg 
ing. 

If  I  had  been  there  I  should  have  told  him  that  a 
man  loses  nothing  in  the  long  run  by  taking  good 
care  of  himself.  He  must  eat  well  and  sleep  well,  in 
order  to  do  well  and  be  well.  But  I  suppose  Bobby 
would  have  told  me  that  it  was  of  no  use  to  pay 
a  quarter  extra  for  sleeping  on  a  gilded  bedstead, 
since  the  room  would  be  so  dark  he  could  not  see  the 
gilt  even  if  he  wished  to  do  so.  I  could  not  have 
said  any  thing  to  such  a  powerful  argument ;  so  I  am 


128  NOW  OK  NEVER;  OR, 

very  glad  the  mechanic's  wife  set  the  matter  at  rest 
by  offering  him  a  bed  in  her  house. 

He  spent  a,  very  pleasant  evening  with  the  family, 
who  made  him  feel  entirely  at  home,  they  were  so 
kind  and  so  plain  spoken.  Before  he  went  to  bed, 
he  entered  under  the  book  account,  "  By  twenty-six 
Wayfarers,  sold  this  day,  826.00." 

He  had  done  a  big*  day's  work,  much  bigger  than 
he  could  hope  to  do  again.  He  had  sold  more  than- 
one  half  of  his  whole  stock,  and  at  this  rate  he  should 
be  out  of  books  the  next  day.  At  first  he  thought 
he  would  send  for  another  lot ;  but  he  could  not 
judge  yet  what  his  average  daily  sales  would  be,  and 
finally  concluded  not  to  do  so.  What  he  had  might 
last  till  Friday  or  Saturday.  He  intended  to  £o 
home  on  the  latter  day,  and  he  could  bring  them 
with  him  on  his  return  without  expense.  This  was 
considerable  of  an  argument  for  a  boy  to  manage ; 
but  Bobby  was  satisfied  with  it,  and  went  to  sleep, 
wondering  what  his  mother,  Squire  Lee.  and  Annie 
were  thinking  of  about  that  time. 

After  breakfast  the  next  morning  he  resumed  his 
travels.  He  was  as  enthusiastic  as  ever,  and  pressed 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         12S 

*  The  Wayfarer "  with  so  much  earnestness  that  he 
sold  a  book  in  nearly  every  house  he  visited.  People 
seemed  to  be  more  interested  in  the  little  merchant 
than  in  his  stock,  and  taking  advantage  of  this  kind 
feeling  towards  him,  he  appealed  to  them  with  so 
much  eloquence  that  few  could  resist  it. 

The  result  of  the  day's  sales  was  fifteen  copies, 
which  Bobby  entered  in  the  book  account  with  the 
most  intense  satisfaction.  He  had  outdone  the  boy 
who  had  passed  through  Riverdale,  but  he  had  little 
hope  that  the  harvest  would  always  be  so  abundant. 

He  often  thought  of  this  boy,  from  whom  he  had 
obtained  the  idea  he  was  now  carrying  out.  That 
boy  had  stopped  over  night  at  the  little  black  house, 
and  slept  with  him.  He  had  asked  for  lodging,  and 
offered  to  pay  for  it,  as  well  as  for  his  supper  and 
breakfast.  Why  couldn't  he  do  the  same  ?  He 
liked  the  suggestion,  and  from  that  time,  wherever  he 
happened  to  be,  he  asked  for  lodging,  or  the  meal  he 
required,  and  he  always  proposed  to  pay  for  what  he 
had,  but  very  few  would  take  any  thing. 

On  Friday  noon  he  had  sold  out.  Returning  to 
the  railroad  station,  he  found  that  the  train  would  not 


:30  NOW  OK  NEVEB;   OK, 

leave  for  the  city  for  an  hour ;  so  he  improved  the 
time  in  examining  and  balancing  his  accounts.  The 
bo^k  sales  amounted  to  just  fifty  dollars,  and  after  his 
ticket  to  Boston  was  paid  for,  his  expenses  would 
amount  to  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents,  leaving  a  bal 
ance  in  his  favor  of  fifteen  dollars.  He  was  over 
joyed  with  the  result,  and  pictured  the  astonishment 
with  which  his  mother,  Squire  Lee,  and  Annie  would 
listen  to  the  history  of  his  excursion. 

After  four  o'clock  that  afternoon  he  entered  the 
store  of  Mr.  Bayard,  bag  and  baggage.  On  his  ar 
rival  in  the  city,  he  was  considerably  exercised  in 
mind  to  know  how  he  should  get  the  trunk  to  his 
destination.  He  was  too  economical  to  pay  a  cart- 
man  a  quarter;  but  what  would  have  seemed  mean 
in  a  man  was  praiseworthy  in  a  boy  laboring  for  a 
noble  end. 

Probably  a  great  many  of  my  young  readers  in 
Bobby's  position,  thinking  that  sixteen  dollars,  which 
our  hero  had  in  his  pocket,  was  a  mint  of  money, 
would  have  been  in  favor  of  being  a  little  magnifi 
cent —  of  taking  a  carriage  and  going  up-town  in  state. 
Bobby  had  not  the  least  desire  to  "swell;"  BO  hi 


THE    ADVENTURES    OP    BOBBY    BRIGH1.         13i 

settled  the  matter  by  bargaining  with  a  little  ragged 
fellow  to  help  him  carry  the  trunk  to  Mr.  Bayard's 
store  >for  fourpence. 

"How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Timmins  ?  "  said  Bobby 
to  the  spruce  clerk,  as  he  deposited  the  trunk  upon 
the  floor,  and  handed  the  ragged  boy  the  four- 
pence. 

"  Ah,  .Bobby  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Timmins.  "  Have 
Tou  sold  out  ?  " 

"  All  clean.     Is  Mr.  Bayard  in  ?  " 

"  In  the  office.     But  how  do  you  like  it?  " 

"  First  rate." 

"  Well,  every  one  to  his  taste  ;  but  I  don't  see  how 
any  one  who  has  any  regard  for  his  dignity  can  stick 
himself  into  every  body's  house.  I  couldn't  do  it,  I 
know." 

"  I  don't  stand  for  the  dignity."   • 

"  Ah,  well,  there  is  a  difference  in  folks." 

"  That's  a  fact,"  replied  Bobby,  as  he  hurried  to 
the  office  of  Mr.  Bayard,  leaving  Mr.  Timmins  to  sun 
himself  in  his  own  dignity. 

The  bookseller  was  surprised  to  see  him  so  soon, 
but  he  gave  him  a  cordial  reception. 


132  NOW    OK    NEVER  ;    OK, 

"  I  didn't  expect  yon  yet,"  said  he.  "  Whj  <iu 
/ou  come  back  ?  Have  you  got  sick  of  the  busi 
ness  ? " 

"  Sick  of  it !     No,  sir." 

"  What  have  you  come  back  for  then  ?  " 

"  Sold  out,  sir." 

"  Sold  out !     You  have  done  well ! " 

"  Better  than  I  expected." 

"  I  had  no  idea  of  seeing  you  till  to-morrow  night ; 
and  I  thought  you  would  have  books  enough  to  begin 
the  next  week  with.  You  have  done  bravely." 

"  If  I  had  had  twenty  more,  I  could  have  sold  them 
before  to-morrow  night.  Now,  sir,  if  you  please,  I 
will  pay  you  for  those  books  —  thirty-three  dollars 
and  fifty  cents." 

"  You  had  better  keep  that,  Bobby.  I  will  trust 
you  as  long  as  you  wish." 

"  If  you  please,  sir,  I  had  rather  pay  it ;  "  and  the 
little  merchant,  as  proud  as  a  lord,  handed  over  the 
amount. 

"  I  like  your  way  of  doing  business,  Bobby.  Noth- 
ng  helps  a  man's  credit  so  much  as  paying  promptly. 
Now  tell  me  some  of  your  adventures  —  or  we  wLU 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY     BRtGHT.         133 

reserve  them  till  this  evening,  for  I  am  sure  Ellen 
will  be  delighted  to  hear  them." 

"  I  think  I  shall  go  to  Riverdale  this  afternoon. 
The  cars  leave  at  half  past  five." 

"  Very  well ;  you  have  an  hour  to  spare." 

Bobby  related  to  his  kind  friend  the  incidents  of 
his  excursion,  including  his  interview  with  Colonel 
Whiting  and  his  niece,  which  amused  the  bookseller 
very  much.  He  volunteered  some  good  advice,  which 
Bobby  received  in  the  right  spirit,  and  with  a  deter 
mination  to  profit  by  it. 

At  half  past  five  he  took  the  cars  for  home,  and 
before  dark  was  folded  in  his  mother's  arms.  The 
little  black  house  seemed  doubly  dear  to  him  now 
that  he  had  been  away  from  it  a  few  days.  Hia 
mqther  and  all  the  children  were  so  glad  to  see  him 
that  it  seemed  almost  worth  his  while  to  go  away  foi 
th&  pleasure  of  meeting  them  on  his  return. 
12 


134  NOW  OB  NEVES;   OB, 


CHAPTER    XII. 

IH     WHICH    BOBBY     ASTONISHES     SUNDRY    PERSONS, 
AND    PAYS    PART    OF    HIS    NOTE. 

"  Now  tell  me,  Bobby,  how  you  have  made  out,' 
said  Mrs.  Bright,  as  the  little  merchant  seated  him 
self  at  the  supper  table.  "  You  cannot  have  done 
much,  for  you  have  only  been  gone  five  days." 

"  I  have  done  pretty  well,  mother,"  replied  Bobby, 
mysteriously ;  "  pretty  well,  considering  that  I  an 
only  a  boy." 

"  I  didn't  expect  to  see  you  till  to-morrow  night." 
"  I  sold  out,  and  had  to  come  home." 
"  That  may  be,  and  still  you  may  not  have  done 
much." 

"  I  don't  pretend  that  I  have  done  much." 
"  How  provoking  you  are  !     Why  don't  you  tell 
me,  Bobby,  what  you  have  done  5  ' 

"  Wait    a  minute,  mother,  tiL    I    have  done    my 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BKIGHT.    135 

supper,  and  then  I  will  show  you  the  footings  in  ray 
ledger." 

"  Your  ledger  !  " 

"  Yes,  my  ledger.     I  keep  a  ledger  now." 

"  You  are  a  great  man,  Mr.  Robert  Bright,"  laughed 
his  mother.  "  I  suppose  the  people  took  their  hats 
off  when  they  saw  you  coming." 

*'  Not  exactly,  mother." 

"  Perhaps  the  governor  came  out  to  meet  you  when 
he  heard  you  was  on  the  road." 

"  Perhaps  he  did ;  I  didn't  see  him,  however. 
This  apple  pie  tastes  natural,  mother.  It  is  a  great 
luxury  to  get  home  after  one  has  been  travelling." 

"  Very  likely." 

"  No  place  like  home,  after  all  is  done  and 
Baid.  Who  was  the  fellow  that  wrote  that  song, 
mother  ?  "  . 

"  I  forget;  the  paper  said  he  spent  a  great  many 
years  in  foreign  parts.  My  sake  !  Bobby  ;  one  would 
think  by  your  talk  that  you  had  been  away  from 
home  for  a  year." 

"  It  seems  like  a  year,"  said  he,  as  he  transferred 
another  quarter  of  the  famous  apple  pie  to  his  plate. 


136  NOW    OK    NEVER;     OE, 

"  I  miss  home  very  much.  I  don't  more  than  half 
[ike  being  among  strangers  so  much." 

"  It  is  your  own  choice  ;  no  one  wants  you  to  go 
away  from  home." 

"I  must  pay  my  debts,  any  how.  Don't  I  owe 
Squire  Lee  sixty  dollars  ?  " 

"  But  I  can  pay  that." 

"  It  is  my  affair,  you  see." 

"  If  it  is  your  affair,  then  I  owe  you  sixty  dol 
lars." 

"  No,  you  don't ;  I  calculate  to  pay  my  board  now. 
1  am  old  enough  and  big  enough  to  do  something." 

"  You  have  done  something  ever  since  you  was  old 
enough  to  work." 

"  Not  much ;  I  don't  wonder  that  miserable  old 
hunker  of  a  Hardhand  twitted  me  about  it.  By  the 
way,  have  you  heard  any  thing  from  him  ?  " 

"Not  a  thing." 

"  He  has  got  enough  of  us,  I  reckon." 

"  You  mustn't  insult  him,  Bobby,  if  you  happen  to 
lee  him." 

"  Never  fear  me." 

"  You    know   the  Bible    says   we   mus*   love    om 


TJ-^    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         13f 

enemies,  and  pray  for  them  that  despitefully  use  us 
and  persecute  us." 

"  I  should  pray  that  the  Old  Nick  might  get 
him." 

"No,  Bobby;  I  hope  you  haven't  forgot  all  your 
Sunday  school  lessons." 

"•  I  was  wrong,  mother,"  replied  Bobby,  a  little 
moved.  "  I  did  not  mean  so.  I  shall  try  to  think  aa 
well  of  him  as  I  can ;  but  I  can't  help  thinking,  if  all 
the  world  was  like  him,  what  a  desperate  hard  time 
we  should  have  of  it." 

"  We  must  thank  the  Lord  that  he  has  given  us 
so  many  good  and  true  men." 

"  Such  as  Squire  Lee,  for  instance,"  added  Bobby, 
as  he  rose  from  the  table  and  put  his  chair  back 
against  the  wall.  "  The  squire  is  fit  to  be  a  king ; 
and  though  I  believe  in  the  Constitution  and  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  I  wouldn't  mind  seeing 
a  crown  upon  his  head." 

"  He  will  receive  his  crown  in  due  time,"  replied 
Mrs.  Bright,  piously. 

"  The  squire  ?  " 

"  The  "srown  of  rejoicing,  I  mean." 
12* 


[38  NOW  OK  NEVER;    OR, 

**  Just  so ;  the  squire  is  a  nice  man ;  and  I  kno* 
another  just  Lke  him." 

"  Who ! " 

'*  Mr.  Bayard ;  they  are  as  near  alike  as  two 
peas." 

"  I  am  dying  to  know  cVbout  your  journey." 

''  Wait  a  minute,  mother,  till  we  clear  away  the 
supper  things ; "  and  Bobby  took  hold,  as  he  had 
been  accustomed,  to  help  remove  and  wash  the 
dishes. 

"  You  needn't  help  now,  Bobby." 

"  Yes,  I  will,  mother." 

Some  how  our  hero's  visit  to  the  city  did  not  seem 
to  produce  the  usual  effect  upon  him ;  for  a  great 
many  boys,  after  they  had  been  abroad,  would  ha've 
scorned  to  wash  dishes  and  wipe  them.  A  week  in 
town  has  made  many  a  boy  so  smart  that  you  couldn't 
touch  him  with  a  ten  foot  pole.  It  starches  them  up 
so  stiff  that  sometimes  they  don't  know  their  own 
mothers,  and  deem  it  a  piece  of  condescension  to 
speak  a  word  to  the  patriarch  in  a  blue  frock  who  had 
.he  honor  of  supporting  them  in  childhood. 

Bobby  was  none  of  this  sorf .     We  lam'  it  that  he 


THE    ADVENTUEES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         13G 

had  a  hanit  of  talking  big  —  that  is,  of  talking  aboiil 
business  affairs  in  a  style  a  little  beyond  his  years, 
But  he  was  modest  to  a  fault,  paradoxical  as  it 
may  seem.  He  was  always  blushing  when  any  body 
spoke  a  pretty  thing  about  him.  Probably  the  cir 
cumstances  of  his  position  elevated  him  above  the 
sphere  of  the  mere  boy ;  he  had  spent  but  little  time 
in  play,  and  his  attention  had  been  directed  at  all 
times  to  the.wants  of  his  mother.  He  had  thought  a 
great  deal  about  business,  especially  since  the  visit  of 
the  boy  who  sold  books  to  the  little  black  house. 

Some  boys  are  born  merchants,  and  from  their  ear 
liest  youth  have  a  genius  for  trade.  They  think  ol 
little  else.  They  "play  shop"  before  they,  wear 
jackets,  and  drive  a  barter  trade  in  jackknives,  whis 
tles,  tops,  and  fishing  lines  long  before  they  get  into 
their  teens.  They  are  shrewd  even  then,  and  obtain 
a  taste  for  commerce  before  they  are  old  enough  to 
know  the  meaning  of  the  word. 

We  saw  a  boy  in  school,  not  long  since,  give  the 
value  of  eighteen  cents  for  a  little  stunted  quince  — • 
boys  have  a  taste  for  raw  quinces,  strange  as  it  may 
seem.  Undoubtedly  he  had  no  talo^t  for  trade,  and 


140  NOW  OK  NEVEK;  OH, 

would  make  a  very  indifferent  tin  pedler.  Our  hero 
was  shrewd.  He  always  got  the  best  end  of  the  bar 
gain  ;  though,  I  am  happy  to  say,  his  integrity  was 
too  unyielding  to  let  him  cheat  his  fellows. 

We  have  made  this  digression  so  that  my  young 
readers  may  know  why  Bobby  was  so  much  given  tc 
big  talk.  The  desire  to  do  something  worthy  of  a 
good  son  turned  his  attention  to  matters  above  his 
sphere  ;  and  thinking  of  great  things,  he  had  come  to 
talk  great  things.  It  was  not  a  bad  fault,  after  all. 
Boys  need  not  necessarily  be  frivolous.  Play  is  a 
good  thing,  an  excellent  thing,  in  its  place,  and  is  as 
much  a  part  of  the  boy's  education  as  his  grammar 
and  arithmetic.  It  not  only  develops  his  muscles, 
but  enlarges  his  mental  capacity ;  it  not  only  fills 
with  excitement  the  idle  hours  of  the  long  day,  but  it 
sharpens  the  judgment,  and  helps  to  fit  the  boy  for 
the  active  duties  of  life. 

It  need  not  be  supposed,  because  Bobby  had  to 
turn  his  attention  to  serious  things,  that  he  was  not 
fond  of  fun  ;  that  he  could  not  or  did  not  play.  At 
a  game  of  round  ball,  he  was  a  lucky  fellow  who  se 
cured  him  upon  his  side ;  for  the  same  energy  which 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BBIctHT.         14 1 

made  him  a  useful  son  rendered  liim  a  desirable  hand 
in  a  difficult  game. 

When  the  supper  things  were  all  removed,  the 
dishes  washed  and  put  away,  Bobby  drew  out  his 
pocket  memorandum  book.  It  was  a  beautiful  article, 
and  Mrs.  Bright  was  duly  astonished  at  its  gilded 
leaves  and  the  elegant  workmanship.  Very  likely 
her  first  impulse  was  to  reprove  her  son  for  such  a 
piece  of  reckless  extravagance  ;  but  this  matter  was 
set  right  by  Bobby's  informing  her  how  it  came  into 
his  possession. 

"  Here  is  my  ledger,  mother,"  he  said,  handing 
her  the  book. 

Mrs.  Bright  put  on  her  spectacles,  and  after  bestow 
ing  a  careful  scrutiny  upon  the  memorandum  book, 
turned  to  the  accounts. 

"  Fifty  books  ! "  she  exclaimed,  as  she  read  the 
first  entry. 

"  Yes,  mother ;  and  I  sold  them  all." 

"  Fifty  dollars  !  " 

*'  But  I  had  to  pay  for  the  books  out  of  that." 

*'  To  be  sure  you  had ;  but  I  suppose  you  made  as 
much  as  ten  cents  a  piece  on  them,  and  that  would 
be  —  let  me  see;  ten  times  fifty ." 


142  NOW  OR   NEVER;     K, 

"*  But  I  ms.de  more  than  that,  I  hope." 

"  How  much  r  " 

The  proud  young  merchant  referred  her  to  tlni  profit 
and  loss  account,  which  exhibited  a  balance  of  fifteen 
dollars. 

"  Gracious  !     Three  dollars  a  day  !  " 

"  Just  so,  mother.  Now  I  will  pay  you  the  dollar 
I  borrowed  of  you  when  I  went  away." 

"  You  didn't  borrow  it  of  me." 

"  But  I  shall  pay  it." 

Mrs.  Bright  was  astonished  at  this  unexpected  and 
gratifying  result.  If  she  had  discovered  a  gold  mine 
in  the  cellar  of  the  little  black  house,  it  could  not  have 
afforded  her  so  much  satisfaction  ;  for  this  money  was 
the  reward  of  her  son's  talent  and  energy.  Her  own 
earnings  scarcely  ever  amounted  to  more  than  three 
or  four  dollars  a  week,  and  Bobby,  a  boy  of  thirteen, 
had  come  home  with  fifteen  for  five  days'  work.  She 
could  scarcely  believe  the  evidence  of  her  own  senses, 
and  she  ceased  to  wonder  that  he  talked  big. 

It  was  nearly  ten  o'clock  when  the  widow  and  her 
Bon  went  to  bed,  so  deeply  were  they  interested  in 
discussing  our  hero's  affairs.  He  had  intended  to 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         145 

call  upon  Squire  Lee  that  night,  but  the  time  passed 
away  so  rapidly  that  he  was  obliged  to  defer  it  till 
the  next  day. 

After  breakfast  the  following  morning,  he  hastened 
to  pay  the  intended  visit.'  There  was  a  tumult  of 
strange  emotions  in  his  bosom  as  he  knocked  at  the 
squire's  door.  He  was  proud  of  the  success  he  had 
achieved,  and  even  then  his  cheek  burned  under  the 
anticipated  commendations  which  his  generous  friend 
would  bestow  upon  him.  Besides,  Annie  would  be 
glad  to  see  him,  for  she  had  expressed  such  a  desire 
\\  hen  they  parted  on  the  Monday  preceding.  I  don't 
think  that  Bobby  cherished  any  silly  ideas,  but  the 
sympathy  of  the  little  maiden  fell  not  coldly  or  unwel- 
comely  upon  his  warm  heart.  In  coming  from  the 
house  he  had  placed  his  copy  of  "  The  Wayfarer " 
under  his  arm,  for  Annie  was  fond  of  reading  ;  and  on 
the  way  over,  he  had  pictured  to  himself  the  pleasure 
she  would  derive  from  reading  his  book. 

Of  course  he  received  a  warm  welcome  from  the 
squire  and  his  daughter.  Each  of  them  had  bestowed 
more  than  a  thought  upon  the  little  wanderer  as  he 
went  from  he  use  to  house,  and  more  than  once  they 
had  conversed  together  about  him. 


'44  NOW  OB  NEVEK;   OK, 

"  1  Veil,  Bobby,  how  is  trade  in  the  book  line  ?  '•* 
asked  the  squire,  after  the  young  pilgrim  had  beon 
cordially  greeted. 

"  Pretty  fair,"  replied  Bobby,  with  as  much  indif 
ference  as  he  could  command,  though  it  was  hard 
even  to  seem  indifferent  then  and  there. 

"  Where  have  you  been  travelling  ?  " 


"  Fine  place.     Books  sell  well  there  ?  " 

"  Very  well  ;  in  fact,  I  sold  out  all  my  stock  by 
noon  yesterday." 

"  How  many  books  did  you  carry  ?  " 

"  Fifty." 

"  You  did  well." 

"  I  should  think  you  did  !  "  added  Annie,  with  an 
enthusiasm  which  quite  upset  all  Bobby's  assumed 
indifference.  "  Fifty  books  !  " 

"  Yes.  Miss  Annie  ;  and  I  have  brought  you  a 
copy  of  the  book  I  have  been  selling  ;  I  thought  you 
w:uld  like  to  read  it.  It  is  a  splendid  work,  and 
will  be  the  book  of  the  season." 

"  I  shall  be  delighted  to  read  it,"  replied  Annie, 
taking  the  proffered  volume.  "  It  looks  real  good," 
she  continued,  as  sh^  turned  over  the  leaves. 


THE    ADVENTTTBES    OF    BOBBY    BEIGHT.        145 

"  It  is  first  rate ;  I  have  read  it  through." 

"  It  was  very  kind  of  you  to  think  of  me  when  you 
have  so  much  business  on  your  mind,"  added  she, 
with  a  roguish  smile. 

"  I  shall  never  have  so  much  business  on  my  mind 
that  I  cannot  think  of  my  friends,"  replied  Bobby,  so 
gallantly  and  so  smartly  that  it  astonished  himself. 

"  I  was  just  thinking  what  I  should  read  next ;  I 
urn  so  glad  you  have  come." 

"  Never  mind  her,  Bobby  ;  all  she  wanted  was  the 
book,"  interposed  Squire  Lee,  laughing. 

"  Now,  pa !  " 

"  Then  I  shall  bring  her  one  very  often." 

"  You  are  too  bad,  pa,"  said  Annie,  who,  like  most 
young  ladies  just  entering  their  teens,  resented  any 
imputation  upon  the  immaculateness  of  human  love, 
or  human  friendship. 

"  I  have  got  a  little  money  for  you,  Squire  Lee," 
continued  Bobby,  thinking  it  time  the  subject  waa 
changed. 

He  took  out  his  gilded  memorandum  book,  whose 
elegant  appearance  rather  startled  the  squire,  and 
from  its  "  treasury  department  "  extracted  the  little 
13 


146  NOW    OR    XEVER ;    OR, 

roll  of  bills,  representing  an  aggregate  of  ten  dollars 
which  he  had  carefully  reserved  for  his  creditor. 

"  Never  mind  that,  Bobby,"  replied  the  squiro. 
"  You  will  want  all  your  capital  to  do  business  with  ' 

"•  I  must  pay  ray  debts  before  I  think  of  any  thing 
else." 

"  A  very  good  plan,  Bobby,  but  this  is  an  excep 
tion  to  the  general  rule." 

"  No,  sir,  I  think  not.  If  you  please,  1  insist  upon 
paying  you  ten  dollars  on  my  note." 

"  O,  well,  if  you  insist,  I  suppose  I  can't  help  my- 
Belf." 

"  I  would  rather  pay  it,  I  shall  feel  so  much  better.' 

"  You  want  to  indorse  it  on  the  note,  I  suppose." 

That  was  just  what  Bobby  wanted.  Indorsed  on 
the  note  was  the  idea,  and  our  hero  had  often  passed 
that  expression  through  his  mind.  There  was  some 
thing  gratifying  in  the  act  to  a  man  of  business  integ 
rity  like  himself;  it  was  discharging  a  sacred  obliga 
tion,  —  he  had  already  come  to  deem  it  a  sacred  duty 
to  pay  one's  debts,  —  and  as  the  squire  wrote  the  in 
dorsement  across  the  back  of  the  note,  he  felt  more 
ake  a  hero  than  evsr  before. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBKY    BRIGHT.          147 

"  '  Pay  as  you  go  '  is  an  excellent  idea  ;  John  .Ran 
dolph  called  it  the  philosopher's  stone,"  added  Squire 
Lee,  as  he  returned  the  note  to  his  pocket  book. 

"  That  is  what  I  mean  to  do  just  as  soon  as  I  can.*' 

"  You  will  do,  Bobby." 

The  young  merchant  spent  nearly  the  whole  fore 
noon  at  the  squire's,  and  declined  an  invitation  to 
dinrer  only  on  the  plea  that  his  mother  would  wait 
for  him  " 


H8  NOW  OK  NEVER:    OB. 


CHAPTER     XIII. 

IN     WHICH     BOBBY     DECLINES     A     COPARTNERSH15 
AND    VISITS    B AGAIN. 

AFTER  dinner  Bobby  performed  his  Saturday  after- 
Doon  chores  as  usual.  He  split  wood  enough  to  last 
for  ji  week,  so  that  his  mother  might  not  miss  him  too 
much,  and  then,  feeling  a  desire  to  visit  his  favorite 
resorts  in  the  vicinity,  he  concluded  to  go  a  fishing. 
The  day  was  favorable,  the  sky  being  overcast  and 
the  wind  very  light.  After  digging  a  little  box  of 
worms  in  the  garden  back  of  the  house,  he  shouldered 
his  fish  pole ;  and  certainly  no  one  would  have  sus 
pected  that  he  was  a  distinguished  travelling  mer 
chant.  He  was  fond  of  fishing,  and  it  is  a  remark 
able  coincidence  that  Daniel  Webster,  and  many  other 
famous  men,  have  manifested  a  decided  passion  for 
this  exciting  sport.  No  doubt  a  fondness  for  angling 
is  a  peculiarity  of  genius  ;  and  if  being  an  exper* 


THE    ADYENTTTRES    OF    BCBBT    BHIGMT.         14k 

fisherman  makes  a  great  man,  then  our  hero  was  a 
great  man. 

He  had  scarcely  seated  himself  on  his  favorite  rock, 
and  dropped  his  line  into  the  water,  before  he  saw 
Tom  Spicer  approaching  the  spot.  The  bully  had 
never  been  a  welcome  companion.  There  was  no 
sympathy  between  them.  They  could  never  agree, 
for  their  views,  opinions,  and  tastes  were  always  con 
flicting.  . 

Bobby  had  not  seen  Tom  since  he  left  him  to  crawl 
out  of  the  ditch  on  the  preceding  week,  and  he  had 
good  reason  to  believe  that  he  should  not  be  regarded 
with  much  favor.  Tom  was  malicious  and  revengeful, 
and  our  hero  was  satisfied  that  the  blow  which  had 
prostrated  him  in  the  ditch  would  not  be  forgotten 
till  it  had  been  atoned  for.  He  was  prepared,  there 
fore,  for  any  disagreeable  scene  which  might  occur. 

There  was  another  circumstance  also  which  ren 
dered  the  bully's  presence  decidedly  unpleasant  at 
this  time  —  an  event  that  had  occurred  during  hia 
absence,  the  particulars  of  which  he  had  received  from 
his  mother. 

Tom's  father,  who  was  a  poor  man,  and  addicted  to 
13* 


T5C  NOW  OR  JTEVEB;  OH, 

intemperance,  had  lost  ten  dollars.  He  nad  brought 
it  home,  and,  as  he  affirmed,  placed  it  in  one  of  the 
bureau  drawers.  The  next  day  it  could  not  be  found. 
Spicer,  for  some  reason,  was  satisfied  that  Tom  had 
/aken  it ;  but  the  boy  stoutly  and  persistently  denied 
it.  No  money  was  found  upon  him,  however,  and  it 
did  not  appear  that  he  had  spent  any  at  the  stores  in 
Riverdale  Centre. 

The  affair  created  some  excitement  in  the  vicinity, 
for  Spicer  made  no  secret  of  his  suspicions,  and  pub 
licly  accused  Tom  of  the  theft.  He  did  not  get  much 
sympathy  from  any  except  his  pot  companions ;  for 
there  was  no  evidence  but  his  bare  and  unsupported 
statement  to  substantiate  the  grave  accusation.  Tom 
had  been  in  the  room  when  the  money  was  placed  in 
the  drawer,  and,  as  his  father  asserted,  had  watched 
him  closely  while  he  deposited  the  bills  under  the 
clothing.  No  one  else  could  have  taken  it.  These 
were  the  proofs.  But  people  generally  believed  that 
Spicer  had  carried  no  money  home,  especially  as  it 
was  known  that  he  was  intoxicated  on  the  night  in 
question ;  and  that  the  alleged  theft  was  only  a  ruse 
to  satisfy  certain  importunate  creditors. 


THE    ADVENTITKES    OF    BOBBY    BBIOHT.         15l 

Every  body  knew  that  Tom  was  bad  enough  to 
Bteal,  even  from  his  father ;  from  which  my  readers 
can  understand  that  it  is  an  excellent  thing  to  have  a 
good  reputation.  Bobby  knew  that  he  would  lie  and 
use  profane  language ;  that  he  spent  his  Sundays  by 
the  river,  or  in  roaming  through  the  woods ;  and  that 
he  played  truant  from  school  as  often  as  the  fea"r 
of  the  rod  would  permit ;  and  the  boy  that  would  do 
all  these  things  certainly  would  steal  if  he  got  a  good 
chance.  Our  hero's  judgment,  therefore,  of  the  case 
was  not  favorable  to  the  bully,  and  he  would  have 
thanked  him  to  stay  away  from  the  river  while  he 
was  there. 

"  Hallo,  Bob  !  How  are  you  ? "  shouted  Tom, 
when  he  had  come  within  hailing  distance. 

"  Very  well,"  replied  Bobby,  rather  coolly. 

"  Been  to  Boston,  they  say." 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  how  did  you  like  it?"  continued  Tom,  a* 
'UP  seated  himself  on  the  rock  near  our  hero. 

•«  First  rate." 

"  Been  to  work  there  ?  " 

«  No." 


152  NOW    OK    JTEVEK  ;    OB, 

"  Wliat  have  you  been  doing  ?  " 

"  Travelling  about." 

"  "What  doing  ?  " 

"  Selling  books." 

"  "Was  you,  though  ?     Did  you  sell  any  ?  " 

"  Yes,  a  few." 

"  How  many  ?  " 

"  O,  about  fifty." 

"  You  didn't,  though  —  did  you  ?  How  much  did 
you  make  ?  " 

"  About  fifteen  dollars." 

"  By  jolly  !  You  are  a  smart  one,  Bobby.  There 
are  not  many  fellow's  that  would  have  done  that." 

"  Easy  enough,"  replied  Bobby,  who  was  not  a  little 
surprised  at  this  warm  commendation  from  one  whom 
he  regarded  as  his  enemy. 

"You  had  to  buy  the  books  first — didn't  you?" 
asked  Tom,  who  began  to  manifest  a  deep  interest  in 
the  trade. 

"  Of  course ;  no  one  will  give  you  the  books." 

"  What  do  you  pay  for  them  ?  " 

"  I  buy  them  so  as  to  make  a  profit  on  them,"  an 
swered  Bobby,  who,  like  a  discreet  merchant,  was  not 
disposed  to  be  too  communicative. 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.    I5o 

"  That  business  would  suit  me  first  rate." 

*'  It  is  pretty  hard  work." 

**  I  don't  care  for  that.  Don't  you  believe  T  could 
do  something  in  this  line  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know;  perhaps  you  could." 

"  Why  not,  as  well  as  you  ?  " 

This  was  a  hard  question ;  and,  as  Bobby  did  not 
wish  to  be  uncivil,  he  talked  about  a  big  pout  he 
hauled  in.  at  that  moment,  instead  of  answering  it. 
He  was  politic,  and  deprecated  the  anger  of  the  bully ; 
so,  though  Tom  plied  him  pretty  hard,  he  did  not  re 
ceive  much  satisfaction. 

"  You  see,  Tom,"  said  he,  when  he  found  that  his 
companion  insisted  upon  knowing  the  cost  of  the 
books,  "  this  is  a  publisher's  secret ;  and  I  dare  say 
they  would  not  wish  every  one  to  know  the  cost  of 
books.  We  sell  them  for  a  dollar  apiece." 

11  Humph  !  You  needn't  be  so  close  atwut  it.  I'll 
bet  I  can  find  out." 

*'  I  have  no  doubt  you  can ;  only,  you  see,  I  don't 
want  to  tell  what  I  am  not  sure  they  would  be  will 
ing  I  should  tell." 

Tom   took   a   slate   pencil  from  his   pocket,   and 


154  NOW  OR  NEVEK;  OK, 

commenced  ciphering  on  the  smooth  rock  upon  whicn 
be  sat. 

*  You  say  you  sold  fifty  books  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Well ;  if  you  made  fifteen  dollars  out  of  fifty, 
that  is  thirty  cents  apiece." 

Bobby  was  a  little  mortified  when  he  perceived  that 
he  had  unwittingly  exposed  the  momentous  secret. 
He  had  not  given  Tom  credit  for  so  much  sagacity 
as  he  had  displayed  in  his  inquiries ;  and  as  he  had 
fairly  reached  his  conclusion,  he  was  willing  he 
should  have  the  benefit  of  it. 

"  You  sold  them  at  a  dollar  apiece.  Thirty  from 
a  hundred  leaves  seventy.  They  cost  you  seventy 
cents  each  —  didn't  they?" 

"  Sixty-seven,"  replied  Bobby,  yielding  the  point. 

"  Enough  said,  Bob ;  I  am  going  into  that  busi 
ness,  any  how." 

"  I  am  willing." 

"  Of  course  you  are ;  suppose  we  go  together," 
luggested  Tom,  who  had  not  used  all  this  conciliation 
nrithout  having  a  purpose  in  view. 

•'  We  could  do  nothing  together." 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBB?    BRIGHT.         153 

•'  I  should  like  to  get  out  with  you  just  once,  only 
to  see  how  it  is  done." 

44  You  can  find  out  for  yourself,  as  I  did." 
•«  Don't  be  mean   Bob." 

^ 

"  Mean  ?     I  am  not  mean." 

"  I  don't  say  you  are.  We  have  always  been  good 
friends,  you  know." 

Bobby  did  not  know  it ;  so  he  looked  at  the  other 
with  a  smile  which  expressed  all  he  meant  to  say. 

"  You  hit  me  a  smart  dig  the  other  day,  I  know ; 
but  I  don't  mind  that.  I  was  in  the  wroncr  then, 
ani  I  am  willing  to  own  it,"  continued  Tom,  with  an 
appearance  of  humility. 

This  was  an  immense  concession  for  Tom  to  make, 
and  Bobby  was  duly  affected  by  it.  Probably  it  was 
the  first  time  the  bully  had  ever  owned  he  was  in 
the  wrong. 

"  The  fact  is,  Bob,  I  always  liked  you ;  and  you 
know  I  licked  Ben  Dowse  for  you." 

"  That  was  two  for  yourself  and  one  for  me ;  be 
sides,  I  didn't  want  Ben  thrashed." 

"  But  he  deserved  it.  Didn't  he  tell  the  master 
you  were  whispering  in  school  ?  " 


156  NOW  OK  NEVEB;  OK, 

**  I  was  whispering ;  so  lie  told  the  truth." 

"  It  was  mean  to  blow  on  a  fellow,  though." 

"  The  master  asked  him  if  I  whispered  to  him ;  of 
course  he  ought  not  to  lie  about  it.  But  he  told  of 
you  at  the  same  time." 

"  I  know  it ;  but  I  wouldn't  have  licked  him  on 
my  own  account." 

"Perhaps  you  wouldn't." 

"  I  know  I  wouldn't.  But,  I  say,  Bobby,  wher* 
do  you  buy  your  books  ?  " 

"  At  Mr.  Bayard's,  in  Washington  Street." 

"  He  will  sell  them  to  me  at  the  same  price  - 
won't  he  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  When  are  you  going  again  ?  " 

"  Monday." 

"  Won't  you  let  me  go  with  you,  Bob  ?  " 

"  Let  you  ?  Of  course  you  can  go  where  you 
please ;  it  is  none  of  my  business." 

Bobby  did  not  like  the  idea  of  having  such  a  co 
partner  as  Tom  Spicer,  and  he  did  not  like  to  te? 
him  so.  If  he  did,  he  would  have  to  give  his  reason* 
for  declining  the  proposition,  and  that  would  mak .' 
Tom  mad,  and  perhaps  provoke  him  to  quarrel. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         151 

The  fish  bit  well,  and  in  an  hour's  time  Bobbj 
had  a  mess.  As  he  took  his  basket  and  -walked  home, 
the  young  ruffian  followed  him.  He  could  not  get 
rid  of  him  till  he  reached  the  gate  in  front  of  the 
little  black  house  ;  and  even  there  Tom  begged  him 
to  stop  a  few  moments.  Our  hero  was  in  a  hurry, 
and  in  the  easiest  manner  possible  got  rid  of  this  as 
pirant  for  mercantile  honors. 

We  have  no  doubt  a  journal  of  Bobby's  daily  lifa 
would  be  very  interesting  to  our  young  readers  ;  but 
the  fact  that  some  of  his  most  stirring  adventures  are 
yet  to  be  related  admonishes  us  to  hasten  forward 
more  rapidly. 

On  Monday  morning  Bobby  bade  adieu  to  his 
mother  again,  and  started  for  Boston.  He  fully  ex 
pected  to  encounter  Tom  on  the  way,  who,  he  was 
afraid,  would  persist  in  accompanying  him  on  his 
tour.  As  before,  he  stopped  at  Squire  Lee's  to  bid 
him  and  Annie  good  by. 

The  litfle  maiden  had  read  "  The  Wayfarer  "  more 

than  half  through,  and  was  very  enthusiastic  in  her 

expression  of  the  pleasure  she  derived  from  it.     She 

promised  to  send  it  over  to  his  house  when  she  had 

14 


158  NOW    OH    XEVER ;    OR, 

finished  it,  and  hoped  he  would  bring  his  stock  tc 
Riverdale,  so'  that  she  might  again  replenish  her 
library.  Bobby  thought  of  something  just  then,  and 
the  thought  brought  forth  a  harvest  on  the  following 
Saturday,  when  he  returned. 

When  he  had  shaken  hands  with  the  squire  and 
was  about  to  depart,  he  received  a  piece  of  news 
which  gave  him  food  for  an  hour's  serious  reflection. 

"  Did  you  hear  about  Tom  Spicer  ?  "  asked  Squire 
Lee. 

"  No,  sir  ;  what  about  him : " 

"  Broken  his  arm." 

"  Broken  his  arm !  Gracious  !  How  did  it  hap 
pen  ?  "  exclaimed  Bobby,  the  more  astonished  because 
he  had  been  thinking  of  Tom  since  he  had  left  home. 

"  He  was  out  in  the  woods  yesterday,  where  boys 
should  not  be  on  Sundays,  and,  in  climbing  a  tree 
after  a  bird's  nest,  he  fell  to  the  ground." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  him,"  replied  Bobby,  musing. 

"  So  am  I ;  but  if  he  had  been  at  home,  or  at 
church,  where  he  should  have  been,  it  would  not 
have  happened.  If  I  had  any  boys,  I  would  lock 
them  up  in  th^ir  chambers  if  I  could  not  keep  tliew 
at  home  Sundays." 


THE    ADVEXTTTttES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         159 

"  Poor  Tom !  "  mused  Bobby,  recalling  the  conver- 
Bation  he  had  had  with  him  on  Saturday,  and  then 
wishing  that  he  had  been  a  little  more  pliant  with  him. 

"  It  is  too  bad  ;  but  I  must  say  I  am  more  sorry 
for  his  poor  mother  than  I  am  for  him,"  added  the 
squire.  "  However,  I  hope  it  will  do  him  good,  and 
be  a  lesson  he  will  remember  as  long  as  he  lives." 

Bobby  bade  the  squire  and  Annie  adieu  again,  and 
resumed  his  journey  towards  the  railroad  station. 
His  thoughts  were  busy  with  Tom  Spicer's  case. 
The  reason  why  he  had  not  joined  him,  as  he  ex 
pected  and  feared  he  would,  was  now  apparent 
He  pitied  him,  for  he  realized  that  he  must  endure  a 
great  deal  of  pain  before  he  could  again  go  out ;  but 
he  finally  dismissed  the  matter  with  the  squire's  sage 
reflection,  that  he  hoped  the  calamity  would  be  » 
good  lesson  to  him. 

The  young  merchant  did  not  walk  to  Boston  this 
time,  for  he  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that,  in 
Ihe  six  hours  it  would  take  him  to  travel  to  the  city 
on  foot,  the  profit  on  the  books  he  could  sell  would 
be  more  than  enough  to  pay  his  fare,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  %tigue  and  the  expense  of  shoe  leather. 


IfiO  NOW  OE  NEVEE;  OE, 

Before  noon  he  was  at  B again,  as  busy  ai 

ever  in  driving  his  business.  The  experience  of  the 
former  week  was  of  great  value  to  him.  He  visited 
people  belonging  to  all  spheres  in  society,  and,  though 
he  was  occasionally  repulsed  or  treated  with  incivility, 
he  was  not  conscious  in  a  single  instance  of  offending 
any  person's  sense  of  propriety. 

He  was  not  as  fortunate  as  during  the  previous 
week,  and  it  was  Saturday  noon  before  he  had  sold 
out  the  sixty  books  he  carried  with  him.  The  net 
profit  for  this  week  was  fourteen  dollars,  with  which 
h'e  was  abundantly  pleased. 

Mr.  Bayard  again  commended  him  in  the  warmest 
terms  for  his  zeal  and  promptness.  Mr.  Timmins  was 
even  more  civil  than  the  last  time,  and  when  Bobby 
asked  the  price  of  Moore's  Poems,  he  actually  offered 
to  sell  it  to  him  for  thirty-three  per  cent,  less  than 
the  retail  price.  The  little  merchant  was  on  the  point 
of  purchasing  it,  when  Mr.  Bayard  inquired  what  he 
wanted. 

"  I  am  going  to  buy  this  book,"    tj/Lcii  Bobby 

"  Moore's  Poems  ?  " 

«  Yes,  sir." 


THE    ADVENTUJiES    OF    BOBBY    BB.IGHT.         161 

Mr.  Bayard  took  from  a  glass  case  an  elegantly 
bound  copy  of  the  same  work  —  morocco,  full  gilt  -- 
and  handed  it  to  our  hero. 

"  I  shall  make  you  a  present  of  this.  Are  you  an 
admirer  of  Moore  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  not  exactly  —  that  is,  I  don't  know 
much  ab«.  at  it ;  but  Annie  Lee  doe^,  and  I  want  to 
get  the  book  for  her." 

Bobby's -cheeks  reddened  as  he  turned  the  leaves 
of  the  beautiful  volume,  putting  his  head  down  to  the 
page  to  hide  his  confusion. 

"  Annie  Lee  ?  "  said  Mr.  Bayard  with  a  quizzing 
emile.  "  I  see  how  it  is.  Rather  young,  Bobby." 

"  Her  father  has  been  very  good  to  me  and  to  my 
mother ;  and  so  has  Annie,  for  that  matter.  Squire 
Lee  would  be  a  great  deal  more  pleased  if  I  should 
make  Annie  a  present  than  if  I  made  him  one.  I 
feel  grateful  to  him,  and  I  want  to  let  it  out  some 
how." 

"  That's    right,  Bobby ;    always    remember   youi 
friends.     Timmins,  wrap  up  this  book." 
.    Bobby  protested  with  all  his  might;  but  the  book- 
14* 


1 62  NOW    OB    NEVER  ;     OR, 

seller  insisted  that  he  should  give  Annie  this  beautiful 
edition,  and  he  was  obliged  to  yield  the  point. 

That  evening  he  was  at  the  little  black  house  again, 
and  his  mother  examined  his  ledger  with  a  great  deal 
of  pride  and  satisfaction.  That  evening,  too,  another 
ten  dollars  was  indorsed  on  the  note,  and  Annie  re 
ceived  that  elegant  copy  of  Moore's  Poemg. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT. 


CHAPTER     XIV. 
IN  WHICH   BOBBY'S   AIR   CASTLE   is   UPSET,   AND 

TOM     SPICER     TAKES     TO    THE    WOODS. 

B'TTRING  the  next  four  weeks  Bobby  visited  various 
places  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston ;  and  at  the  end  of 
that  time  he  had  paid  the  whole  of  the  debt  he  owed 
Squire  Lee.  He  had  the  note  in  his  memorandum 
book,  and  the  fact  that  he  had  achieved  his  first  great 
purpose  afforded  him  much  satisfaction.  Now  he 
owed  no  man  any  thing,  and  he  felt  as  though  he 
,  could  hold  up  his  head  among  the  best  people  in  the 
world. 

The  little  black  house  was  paid  for,  and  Bobby  was 
proud  that  his  own  exertions  had  released  his  mother 
from  her  obligation  to  her  hard  creditor.  Mr.  Hard- 
hand  could  no  longer  insult  and  abuse  her. 

The  apparent  results  which  Bobby  had  accom 
plished,  however,  were  as  nothing  compared  with 


\CA  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;    OX, 

*ne  real  results.  He  had  developed  those  energies 
of  character  which  were  to  make  him,  not  only  & 
great  business  man,  but  a  useful  member  of  society. 
Besides,  there  was  a  moral  grandeur  in  his  humble 
achievements  which  was  more  worthy  of  consideration 
than  the  mere  worldly  success  he  had  obtained.  Mo 
tives  determine  the  character  of  deeds.  That  a  boy 
of  thirteen  should  display  so  much  enterprise  and 
energy  was  a  great  thing  ;  but  that  it  should  be  dis 
played  from  pure,  unselfish  devotion  to  his  mother 
was  a  vastly  greater  thing.  Many  great  achievements 
are  morally  insignificant,  while  many  of  which  the 
world  never  hears  mark  the  true  hero. 

Our  hero  was  not  satisfied  with  what  he  had  done, 
and  far  from  relinquishing  his  interesting  and  profit 
able  employment,  his  ambition  suggested  new  and 
wider  fields  of  success.  As  one  ideal,  brilliant  and 
glorious  in  its  time,  was  reached,  another  more  bril 
liant  and  more  glorious  presented  itself,  and  demanded 
to  be  achieved.  The  little  black  house  began  to  appear 
rusty  and  in^oiivement ;  a  coat  of  white  paint  would 
marvellously  improve  its  appearance;  a  set  of  nice 
Paris-green  blinds  would  make  a  palace  of  it ;  aud  a 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    RKIGHT.         165 

naat  fence  around  it  would  positively  transform  the 
place  into  a  paradise.  Yet  Bobby  was  audacious 
enough  to  think  of  these  things,  and  even  to  promise 
himself  that  they  should  be  obtained. 

In  conversation  with  Mr.  Bayard  a  few  days  be 
fore,  that  gentleman  had  suggested  a  new  field  of 
labor ;  and  it  had  been  arranged  that  Bobby  should 
visit  the  State  of  Maine  the  following  week.  On  the 
banks  of  the  Kennebec  were  many  wealthy  and  im 
portant  towns,  where  the  intelligence  of  the  people 
created  a  demand  for  books.  This  time  the  little 
merchant  was  to  take  two  hundred  books,  and  be 
absent  until  they  were  all  sold. 

On  Monday  morning  he  started  bright  and  ear/y 
for  the  railroad  station.  As  usual,  he  called  upon 
Squire  Lee,  and  informed  Annie  that  he  should  proba 
bly  be  absent  three  or  four  weeks.  She  hoped  no 
accident  would  happen  to  him,  and  that  his  journey 
would  be  crowned  with  success.  Without  being 
sentimental,  she  was  a  little  sad,  for  Bobby  was  a 
great  friend  of  hers.  That  elegant  copy  of  Moore's 
Poems  had  been  gratefully  received,  and  she  was  so 
fond  of  the  bard's  beautiful  and  touching  melodies. 


166  NOW  OK  NEVEB;    OR, 

that  she  could  never  read  any  of  them  without  think 
ing  of  the  brave  little  fellow  who  had  given  her  the 
volume  ;  which  no  one  will  consider  very  remarkable, 
even  in  a  little  miss  of  twelve. 

After  he  had  bidden  her  and  her  father  adieu, 
he  resumed  his  journey.  Of  course  he  was  thinking 
with  all  his  might ;  but  no  one  need  suppose  he  was 
wondering  how  wide  the  Kennebec  River  was,  or  how 
many  books  he  should  sell  in  the  towns  upon  its 
banks.  Nothing  of  the  kind ;  though  it  is  enough 
even  for  the  inquisitive  to  know  that  he  was  thinking 
of  something,  and  that  his  thoughts  were  very  inter 
esting,  not  to  say  romantic. 

"  Hallo,  Bob  ! "  shouted  some  one  from  the  road 
side. 

Bobby  was  provoked  ;  for  it  is  sometimes  very  un 
comfortable  to  have  a  pleasant  train  of  thought  inter 
rupted.  The  imagination  is  buoyant,  ethereal,  .and 
elevates  poor  mortals  up  to  the  stars  sometimes.  It 
was  so  with  Bobby.  He  was  building  up  some  kind 
of  an  air  castle,  and  had  got  up  in  the  clouds  amidst 
the  fog  and  moonshine,  and  that  aggravating  i  oics 
brought  him  down,  slap,  upon  terra  firma. 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.    1  (T) 

He  looked  up  and  saw  Tom  Spicer  seated  upon  the 
fence.  In  his  hand  he  held  a  bundle,  and  had  evi 
dently  been  waiting  some  time  for  Bobby's  coming. 

He  had  recovered  from  the  illness  caused  by  hia 
broken  arm,  and  people  said  it  had  been  a  good  les 
son  for  him,  as  the  squire  hoped  it  would  be.  Bobby 
had  called  upon  him  two  or  three  times  during  his 
confinement  to  the  house  ;  and  Tom,  either  truly  re 
pentant  for  his  past  errors,  or  lacking  the  opportunity 
at  that  time  to  manifest  his  evil  propensities,  had 
stoutly  protested  that  he  had  "  turned  over  a  new  leaf," 
and  meant  to  keep  out  of  the  woods  on  Sunday,  stop 
lying  and  swearing,  and  become  a  good  boy. 

Bobby  commended  his  good  resolutions,  and  told 
him  he  would  never  want  friends  while  he  was  true  to 
himself.     The  right  side,  he  declared,  was  always  th 
best  side.     He  quoted  several  instances  of  men,  whose 

lives  he  had  read  in  his  Sunday  school  books,  to  show 

% 
how  happy  a  good  man  may  be  in  prison,  or  when  all 

the  world  seemed  to  forsake  him. 

Tom  assured  him  that  he  meant  to  reform  and  be 
a  good  boy ;  and  Bobby  told  him  that  when  any  one 
iroHot  to  turn  over  a  new  leaf,  it  was  "  now  or  never.' 


168  NOW  OB  XKVRR;   OB 

If  he  put  it  off,  he  would  only  grow  worse,  and  tht 
longer  the  good  work  was  delayed,  the  more  difficult 
it  would  be  to  do  it.  Tom  agreed  to  all  this,  and  was 
«»u  re  he  had  reformed. 

For  these  reasons  Bobby  had  come  to  regard  Tom 
with  a  feeling  of  deep  interest.  He  considered  him 
as,  in  some  measure,  his  disciple,  and  he  felt  a  per 
sonal  responsibility  in  encouraging  him  to  perse"vere 
in  his  good  work.  Nevertheless  Bobby  was  not  ex 
actly  pleased  to  have  his  fine  air  castle  upset,  and  to 
be  tipped  out  of  the  clouds  upon  the  cold,  uncompro 
mising  earth  again  ;  so  the  first  greeting  he  gave  Tom 
was  not  as  cordial  as  it  might  have  been. 

"  Hallo,  Tom !  "  he  replied,  rather  coolly. 

"  Been  waiting  for  you  this  half  hour." 

"  Have  you  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  ain't  you  rather-late  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  have  plenty  of  time,  though  none  to  spare/' 
answered  Bobby  ;  and  this  was  a  hint  that  he  must 
not  detain  him  too  long. 

"  Come  along  then." 

**  Where  are  you  going,  Tom?  "  aslr  jd  Bobby,  a  lit 
tle  surprised  at  these  words. 


THE    A.DVENTURES    OF    BOBB\     BlilGHX.         160 

"To  Bcston." 

"  Are  you  ?  " 

"  I  am  ;  that's  a  fact.  You  know  I  spoke  to  you 
about  going  into  the  book  business." 

"  Not  lately." 

"  But  I  have  been  thinking  about  it  all  the  time," 

"  What  do  your  father  and  mother  say  ?  " 

"  O,  they  are  all  right." 

"  Have  you  asked  them  ?  " 

"  Certainly  I  have;  they  are  willing  I  should  go 
with  you." 

"  Why  didn't  you  speak  of  it  then  ?  " 

"  I  thought  I  wouldn't  say  any  thing  till  the  time 
came.  You  know  you  fought  shy  when  I  spoke  about 
it  before." 

And  Bobby,  notwithstanding  the  interest  he  felt 
in  his  companion,  was  a  little  disposed  to  "fight  shy" 
now.  Tom  had  reformed,  or  had  pretended  to  do  so  ; 
but  he  was  still  a  raw  recruit,  and  our  hero  was  some 
what  fearful  that  he  would  run  at  the  first  fire. 

Tc  the  good  and  true  man  life  is  a  constant  battle 
Temptation  assails  him  at  almost  every  point ;  perils 
and  snares  beset  him  at  every  step  of  his  mortal  pil- 
15 


170  NOW  OK  NEVER;    OR, 

grimage,  so  that  every  day  he  is  called  upon  to  gird 
on  his  armor  and  fight  the  g^od  fight. 

Bobby  was  no  poet ;  but  he  had  a  good  idea  of  this 
every-day  strife  with  the  foes  of  error  and  sin  that 
crossed  his  path.  It  was  a  practical  conception,  but 
it  was  tr.uly  expressed  under  the  similitude  of  a  battle. 
There  was  to  be  resistance,  and  he  could  comprehend 
that,  for  his  bump  of  combativeness  took  cognizance 
of  the  suggestion.  He  was  to  fight ;  and  that  was 
an  idea  that  stood  him  in  better  stead  than  a  whole 
library  of  ethical  subtilties. 

Judging  Tom  by  his  own  standard,  he  was  afraid 
he  would  run  —  that  he  wouldn't  "  stand  fire."  He 
had  not  been  drilled.  Heretofore,  when  temptation 
beset  him,  he  had  yielded  without  even  a  struggle, 
and  fled  from  the  field  without  firing  a  gun.  To  go 
oat  into  the  great  world  was  a  trying  event  for  the  raw 
recruit.  He  lacked,  too,  that  prestige  of  success 
which  is  worth  more  than  numbers  on  the  field  of 
battle. 

Tom  had  chosen  for  himself,  and  he  could  not  send 
him  back.  He  had  taken  up  the  line  of  march,  let  it 
lead  him  where  it  might. 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BEIGHT.    17x 

"  March,  on !  in  legions  death  and  sin 

Impatient  wait  thy  conquering  hand ; 
The  foe  without,  the  foe  within  — 

Thy  youthful  arm  must  both  withstand  " 

Bobby  had  great  hopes  of  him.  He  felt  that  he 
could  not  well  get  rid  of  him,  and  he  saw  that  it  was 
policy  for  him  to  make  the  best  of  it. 

"  Well,  Tom,  where  are  you  going  ?  "  asked  Bobby, 
after  he  had  made  up  his  mind  not  to  object  to  the 
companionship  of  the  other. 

"  I  don't  know.  You  have  been  a  good  friend  to 
me  lately,  and  I  had  an  idea  that  you  would  give  me 
a  lift  in  this  business." 

"  I  should  be  very  willing  to  do  so  ;  but  what  can 
T  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Just  show  me  how  the  business  is  done ;  that's 
all  I  want." 

•'  Your  father  and  mother  were  willing  you  should 
come  —  were  they  not  ?  " 

Bobby  had  some  doubts  about  this  point,  and  with 
good  reason  too.  He  had  called  at  Tom's  house,  the 
day  before,  and  they  had  gone  to  church  together  ; 
but  neither  he  nor  his  parents  had  said  a  word  about 
his  going  to  Boston. 


172  NOW  OK  NEVEK;  OK, 

*'  When  did  they  agree  to  it  ?  " 

••  Last  night,"  replied  Tom,  after  a  moment's  hesi 
tation. 

"  All  right  then ;  but  I  cannot  promise  you  thai 
Mr.  Bayard  will  let  you  have  the  books." 

"  I  can  fix  that,  I  reckon,"  replied  Tom,  confi 
dently. 

"  I  will  speak  a  good  word  for  you,  at  any  rate." 

"  That's  right,  Bob." 

"  I  am  going  down  into  the  State  of  Maine  this 
time,  and  shall  be  gone  three  or  four  weeks." 

"  So  much  the  better ;  I  always  wanted  to  go  down 
that  way." 

Tom  asked  a  great  many  questions  about  the  busi 
ness  and  the  method  of  travelling,  which  Bobby's 
superior  intelligence  and  more  extensive  experience 
enabled  him  to  answer  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
the  other. 

When  they  were  within  half  a  mile  of  the  railroad 
station,  they  heard  a  carriage  driven  at  a  rapid  rate 
approaching  them  from  the  direction  of  Riverdale. 

Tom  seemed  to  be  uneasy,  and  cast  frequent  glancep 
behind  him.  In  a  moment  the  vehicle  was  within  a 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.    1 7& 

short  distance  of  them,  and  he  stopped  short  in  the 
road  to  scrutinize  the  persons  in  it. 

"  By  jolly  !  "  -exclaimed  Tom  ;  "  my  father  !  " 

"What  of  it?"  asked  Bobby,  surprised  by  the 
strange  behavior  of  his  companion. 

Tom  did  not  wait  to  reply,  but  springing  over  the 
fence,  fled  like  a  deer  towards  some  woods  a  short  dis 
tance  from  the  road. 

Was  it  possible  ?  Tom  had  run  away  from  home. 
His  father  had  not  consented  to  his  going  to  Boston, 
and  Bobby  was  mortified  to  find  that  his  hopeful  dis 
ciple  had  been  lying  to  him  ever  since  they  left  River- 
dale.  But  he  was  glad  the  cheat  had  been  exposed. 

"  That  was  Tom  with  you  —  wasn't  it  r  "  asked  Mr 
Spicer,  as  he  stopped  the  foaming  horse. 

"  Yes.  sir;  but  he  told  me  you  had  consented  that 
he  should  go  with  me,"  replied  Bobby,  a  little  dis 
turbed  by  the  angry  glarce  of  Mr.  Spicer's  fiery  eyes. 

"  He  lied  !  the  "oung  villain!  He  will-catch  itfoi 
this." 

'•  I  would  not  ha\e  let  him  come  with  me  only  for 
that.     I  asked  him  twice  over  if  you  were  willing, 
uid  he  said  you  were." 
15* 


174  NOW  OK  NEVER;  on, 

"  You  ought  to  have  known  better  than  lo  believg 
him,"  interposed  the  man  who  was  with  Mr.  Spicer. 

Bobby  had  some  reason  for  belfeving  him.  The 
fact  that  Tom  had  reformed  ought  to  have  entitled  him 
to  some  consideration,  and  our  hero  gave  him  the  full 
benefit  of  the  declaration.  To  have  explained  this 
would  have  taken  more  time  than  he  could  spare  ;  be 
sides,  it  was  "  a  great  moral  question,"  whose  impor 
tance  Mr.  Spicer  and  his  companion  would  not  be 
likely  to  apprehend ;  so  he  made  a  short  story  of  it, 
and  resumed  his  walk,  thankful  that  he  had  got  rid 
of  Tom. 

Mr.  Spicer  and  his  friend,  after  fastening  the  horse 
to  the  fence,  went  to  the  woods  in  search  of  Tom. 

Bobby  reached  the  station  just  in  time  to  take  the 
cars,  and  in  a  moment  was  on  his  way  to  the  city. 


THE    ABYENTUBES    OF    BOBBY    BKIGHT.         173 


CHAPTER     XV. 

IN    -WHICH    BOBBY    GETS    INTO    A    SCRAPE,    AND    TOM 
SPICEB   TURNS    UP    AGAIN. 

BOBBY  had  a  poorer  opinion  of  human  nature  than 
ever  before.  It  seemed  almost  incredible  to  him  that 
words  so  fairly  spoken  as  those  of  Tom  Spicer  could 
be  false.  He  had  just  risen  from  a  sick  bed,  where 
he  had  l|ad  an  opportunity  for  long  and  serious  reflec 
tion.  Tom  had  promised  fairly,  and  Bobby  had  every 
reason  to  suppose  he  intended  to  be  a  good  boy. 
But  his  promises  had  been  lies.  He  had  never  in 
tended  to  reform,  at  least  not  since  he  had  got  off 
his  bed  of  pain.  He  was  mortified  and  disheartened 
at  the  failure  of  this  attempt  to  restore  him  to  him 
self. 

Like  a  greaf  many  older  and  wiser  persons  than 
himself,  he  was  p-one  to  judge  the  whole  human 
family  by  a  single  individual.  He  d:i  not  come  to 


176  NOW  OK  NEVEtt;  OR 


believe  that  every  man  was  a  rascal,  but,  in  more  gen 
eral  terms,  that  there  is  a  great  deal  more  rascality 
in  this  world  than  one  would  be  willing  to  belie\e. 

With  this  sage  reflection,  he  dismissed  Tom  from 
his  mind,  which  very  naturally  turned  again  to  the 
air  castle  which  had  been  so  ruthlessly  upset.  Then 
his  opinion  of  "  the  rest  of  mankind  "  was  reversed  ; 
and  he  reflected  that  if  the  world  were  only  peopled 
by  angels  like  Annie  Lee,  what  a  pleasant  place  it 
would  be  to  live  in.  She  could  not  tell  a  lie,  she 
could  not  use  bad  language,  she  could  not  steal,  or 
do  any  thing  else  that  was  bad  ;  and  the  prospect 
was  decidedly  pleasant.  It  was  very  agreeable  to 
turn  from  Tom  to  Annie,  and  in  a  moment  his  air 
castle  was  built  again,  and  throned  on  clouds  of  gold 
and  purple.  I  do  not  know  what  impossible  thingj 
he  imagined,  or  how  far  up  in  the  clouds  he  would 
have  gone,  if  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  the  city  had 
not  interrupted  his  thoughts,  and  pitched  him  down 
upon  the  earth  again. 

Bobby  was  not  one  of  that  impracticable  class  of 
persons  who  do  nothing  but  dream  ;  for  he  felt  that 
tie.  had  a  mission  to  perform  which  dreaming  could 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.    17 

not  accomplish.  However  pleasant  it  may  be  to 
think  of  the  great  and  brilliant  things  which  one  will 
do,  to  one  of  Bobby's  practical  character  it  was  even 
more  pleasant  to  perform  them.  We  all  dream  great 
things,  imagine  great  things  ;  but  he  who  stops  there 
does  not  amount  to  much,  and  the  world  can  well 
spare  him,  for  he  is  nothing  but  a  drone  in  the  hive. 
Bobby's  fine  imaginings  were  pretty  sure  to  bring  out 
a  "  now  or"  never,"  which  was  the  pledge  of  action, 
and  the  work  was  as  good  as  done  when  he  had 
said  it. 

Therefore,  when  the  train  arrived,  Bobby  did  not 
stop  to  dream  any  longer.  He  forgot  his  beautiful 
air  castle,  and  even  let  Annie  Lee  slip  from  his  mind 
for  the  time  being.  Those  towns  upon  the  Kennebec, 
the  two  hundred  books  he  was  to  sell,  loomed  up  be 
fore  him,  for  it  was  with  them  he  had  to  do. 

Grasping  the  little  valise  he  carried  with  him,  he 
was  hastening  out  of  the  station  house  when  a  hand 

was  placed  upon  his  shoulder. 

* 

"  Got  off  slick  —  didn't  I  ?  "  said  Torn  Spicer,  pla 
cing  himself  by  Bobby's  side. 

"  You  here,  Tom  !  "    exclaimed  our  hero,  gazing 
with  astonishment  at  hi?  late  companion. 


178  NOW  OK  NEVEE;    OB, 

It  was  not  an  agreeable  encounter,  and  from  th« 
bottom  of  his  heart  Bobby  wished  him  any  where  but 
where  he  was.  He  foresaw  that  he  could  not  easily 
get  rid  of  him. 

"  I  am  here,"  replied  Tom.  "  I  ran  through  the 
woods  to  the  depot,  and  got  aboard  the  cars  just  as 
they  were  starting.  The  old  man  couldn't  come  it 
over  me  quite  so  slick  as  that." 

"  But  you  ran  away  from  home." 

"  Well,  what  of  it  ?  " 

"  A  good  deal,  I  should  say." 

"  If  you  had  been  in  my  place,  you  would  h  ,ve 
done  the  same." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that ;  obedience  to  parents 
is  one  of  our  first  duties." 

"  I  know  that ;  and  if  I  had  had  any  sort  of  fair 
play,  I  wouldn't  have  run  away." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  "  asked  Bobby, 
somewhat  surprised,  though  he  had  a  faint  idea  of  the 
meaning  of  the  other. 

"  I" will  tell  you  all  about  it  by  and  by.  I  give 
you  my  word  and  honor  that  T  will  make  every  thing 
satisfactory  to  you." 


THE   ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.        179 

•*  But  you  lied  to  me  on  the  road  this  morning." 

Tom  winced;  under  ordinary  circumstances  he 
would  have  resented  such  a  remark  by  "  clearing 
away"  for  a  fight.  But  he  had  a  purpose  to  accom 
plish,  and  he  knew  the  character  of  him  with  whom 
he  had  to  deal. 

"  I  am  sorry  I  did,  now,"  answered  Tom,  with 
every  manifestation  of  penitence  for  his  fault.  "  I 
didn't  want  to  lie  to  you;  and  it  went  against  my 
conscience  to  do  so.  But  I  was  afraid,  if  I  told  you 
my  father  refused,  up  and  down,  to  let  me  go,  that 
you  wouldn't  be  willing  I  should  come  with  you." 

"  I  shall  not  be  any  more  willing  now  I  know  all 
about  it,"  added  Bobby,  in  an  uncompromising  tone. 

"  Wait  till  you  have  heard  my  story,  and  then  you 
won't  blame  me." 

"  Of  course  you  can  go  where  you  please ;  it  ia 
none  of  my  business ;  but  let  me  tell  you,  Tom,  in 
the  beginning,  that  I  won't  go  with  a  fellow  who  haa 
run  away  from  his  father  and  mother." 

"  Pooh !    What's  the  use  of  talking  in  that  way  ?  " 

Tom  was  evidently  disconcerted  by  this  decided 
•tand  of  his  companion.  He  knew  that  his  bump  of 


180  NOW    OK    NEVEK ;    OB, 

firmness  was  well  developed,  and  whatever  he  said 

• 

Ae  meant. 

"You  had  better  return  home,  Tom.  Boys  that 
tun  away  from  home  don't  often  amount  to  much 
Take  my  advice,  and  go  home,"  added  Bobby. 

"  To  such  a  home  as  mine  !  "  said  Tom,  gloomily. 
"  If  1  had  such  a  home  as  yours,  I  would  not  have 
left  it." 

Bob'by  got  a  further  idea  from  this  remark  of  the 
true  state  of  the  case,  and  the  consideration  moved 
him.  Tom's  father  was  a  notoriously  intemperate 
man,  and  the  boy  had  nothing  to  hope  for  from  his 
precept  or  his  example.  He  was  the  child  of  a 
drunkard,  and  as  much  to  be  pitied  as  blamed  for  his 
vices.  His  home  was  not  pleasant.  He  who  pre 
sided  over  it,  and  who  should  have  made  a  paradise 
of  it,  was  its  evil  genius,  a  demon  of  wickedness,  who 
blasted  its  flowers  as  fast  as  they  bloomed 

Tom  had  seemed  truly  penitent  both  during  his 
illness  and  since  his  recovery.  His  one  great  desire 
now  was  to  get  away  from  home,  for  home  to  him 
was  a  place  of  torment.  Bobby  suspected  all  this, 
and  in  his  great  heart  he  pitied  his  companion.  He 
did  not  know  what  to  do. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         181 

•'  I  am  sorry  for  you,  Tom,"  said  he,  after  lie  had 
considered  the  matter  in  this  new  light ;  "  but  I 
don't  see  what  I  can  do  for  you.  I  doubt  whether  it 
would  be  right  for  me  to  help  you  run  away  from 
your  parents." 

"  I  don't  want  you  to  help  me  run  away.  I  have 
done  that  already." 

"  But  if  I  let  you  go  with  me,  it  will  be  just 
the  same  thing.  Besides,  since  you  told  me  those 
lies  this  morning,  I  haven't  much  confidence  in 
you." 

"  I  couldn't  help  that." 

"  Yes,  you  could.     Couldn't  help  lying  ?  " 

"  What  could  I  do  ?  You  would  have  gone  right 
back  and  told  my  father." 

"  Well,  we  will  go  up  to  Mr.  Bayard's  store,  and 
then  we  will  see  what  can  be  done." 

"  I  couldn't  stay  at  home,  sure,"  continued  Tom, 
as  they  walked  along  together.  "  My  father  even 
talked  of  binding  me  out  to  a  trade/1 

"Did  he?'' 

Bobby  stopped  short  in  the  street ;  for  it  was  evi 
dent  that,  as  this  would  remove  him  from  his  unhappy 
18 


182  NO\V  OB  NEVER;    OK. 

home,  and  thus  effect  all  he  professed  to  desire,  he 
flad  some  other  purpose  in  view. 

"  What  are  you  stopping  for,  Bob  ?  " 

"  I  think  you  hetter  go  back,  Tom." 

*'  Not  I ;  I  won't  do  that,  whatever  happens." 

"  If  your  father  will  put  you  to  a  trade,  what  more 
do  you  want  ?  " 

"  I  won't  go  to  a  trade,  any  how." 

Bobby  said  no  more,  but  determined  to  consult 
with  Mr.  Bayard  about  the  matter ;  and  Tom  was 
Boon  too  busily  engaged  in  observing  the  strange 
sights  and  sounds  of  the  city  to  think  of  any  thing 
else. 

When  they  reached  the  store,  Bobby  went  into 
Mr.  Bayard's  private  office  and  told  him  all  about  the 
affair.  The  bookseller  decided  that  Tom  had  run 
away  more  to  avoid  being  bound  to  a  trade  than  be 
cause  his  home  was  unpleasant;  and  this  decision 
seemed  to  Bobby  all  the  more  just  because  he  knew 
that  Tom's 'mother,  though  a  drunkard's  wife,  was  a 
very  good  woman.  Mr.  Bayard  further  decided  that 
Bobby  ought  not  to  permit  the  runaway  to  be  the 
eompanion  of  his  journey.  He  also  considered  it  hia 


-HE  ADVENTUKES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.    1&-5 

duty  to  write  to  Mr.  Spicer,  informing  him  of  hia 
son's  arrival  in  the  city,  and  clearing  Bobby  from  any 
agency  in  his  escape. 

While  Mr.  Bayard  was  writing  the  letter,  Bobby 
went  out  to  give  Tom  the  result  of  the  consultation. 
The  runaway  received  it  with  a  great  show  of  emo 
tion,  and  begged  and  pleaded  to  have  the  decision 
reversed.  But  Bobby,  though  he  would  gladly  have 
done  any  .thing  for  4iim  which  was  consistent  with  his 
duty,  was  firm  as  a  rock,  and  positively  refused  to 
have  any  thing  to  do  with  him  until  he  obtained  his 
father's  consent ;  or,  if  there  was  any  such  trouble  as 
he  asserted,  his  mother's  consent. 

Tom  left  the  store,  apparently  "  more  in  sorrow 
than  in  anger."  His  bullying  nature  seemed  to  be 
cast  out,  and  Bobby  could  not  but  feel  sorry  for  him. 
Duty  was  imperative,  as  it  always  is,  and  it  must  be 
done  "  now  or  never." 

During  the  day  the  little  merchant  attended  to  the 
packing  of  his  stock,  and  to  such  other  preparations 
as  were  required  for  his  journey.  He  mast  take  the 
steamer  that  evening  for  Bath,  and  when  the  time  fol 
his  departure  arrived,  he  was  attended  to  the  Wharf 


184  NOW    OR    NEVEK ;     OB, 

by  Mr.  Bayard  and  Ellen,  with  whom  he  had  passed 
the  afternoon.  The  bookseller  assisted  him  in  pro 
curing  his  ticket  and  berth,  and  gave  him  such  in 
structions  as  his  inexperience  demanded. 

The  lasi  bell  rang,  the  fasts  were  cast  off,  ar_d  the 
great  wheels  of  the  steamer  began  to  turn.  Our  hero, 
who  had  never  been  on  the  water  in  a  steamboat,  or 
indeed  any  thing  bigger  than  a  punt  on  the  river  at 
home,  was  much  interested  and  excited  by  his  novel 
position.  He  seated  himself  on  the  promenade  deck, 
and  watched  with  wonder  the  boiling,  surging  waters 
astern  of  the  steamer. 

How  powerful  is  man,  the  author  of  that  mighty 
machine  that  bore  him  so  swiftly  over  the  deep  blue 
waters  !  Bobby  was  a  little  philosopher,  as  we  have 
before  had  occasion  to  remark,  and  he  was  decidedly 
of  the  opmion  that  the  steamboat  was  a  great  institu 
tion.  When  he  had  in  some  measure  conquered  hi» 
amazement,  and  the  first  ideas  of  sublimity  which  the 
steamer  and  the  sea  were  calculated  to  excite  in  •» 
poetical  imagination,  he  walked  forward  to  take  a 
closer  survey  of  the  machinery  After  all,  there  was 
sonic  ;hing  rather  comical  in  the  affair.  The  steam 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HOBBY    BRIGHT.         18<t 

hissed  and  sputtered,  and  the  great  walking  beam 
kept  flying  up  and  down ;  and  the  sum  total  of  Bob 
by's  philosophy  was,  that  it  was  funny  these  things 
should  make  the  boat  go  so  like  a  race  horse  over  the 
water. 

Then  he  took  a  look  into  the  pilot  house,  and  it 
seemed  more  funny  that  turning  that  big  wheel  should 
steer  the  boat.  But  the  wind  blew  rather  fresh  at 
the  forward  part  of  the  boat,  and  as  Bobby's  philoso 
phy  was  not  proof  against  it,  he  returned  to  the 
promenade  deck,  which  was  sheltered  from  the  sever 
ity  of  the  blast.  He  had  got  reconciled  to  the  whole 
thing,  and  ceased  to  bother  his  head  about  the  big 
wheel,  the  sputtering  steam,  and  the  walking  beam  ; 
so  he  seated  himself,  and  began  to  wonder  what  all 
the  people  in  Biverdale  were  about. 

"  All  them  as  hasn't  paid  their  fare,  please  walk  up 
to  the  cap'n's  office  and  s-e-t-t-1-e  !  "  shouted  a  col 
ored  boy,  presenting  himself  just  then,  and  furiously 
zinging  a  large  hand  bell. 

"  I  hive  just  settled,"  said  Bobby,  alluding  to  his 
comfortable  seat. 

But  the  illusion  was  so  indefinite  to  the  colorej 
16* 


186  NOW  OK  XEVER;   OK, 

boy  that  he  thought  himself  insulted.  He  did  nol 
appear  to  be  a  very  amiable  boy,  for  his  fist  was 
doubled  up,  and  with  sundry  big  oaths,  he  threatened 
to  annihilate  the  little  merchant  for  his  insolence. 

"  I  didn't  say  any  thing  that  need  offend  you,"  re 
plied  Bobby.  "  I  meant  nothing." 

"  You  lie  !     You  did ! " 

He  was  on  the  point  of  administering  a  blow  with 
his  fist,  when  a  third  party  appeared  on  the  ground, 
and  without  waiting  to  hear  the  merits  of  the  case, 
struck  the  negro  a  blow  which  had  nearly  floored 
him. 

Some  of  the  passengers  now  interfered,  and  the 
colored  boy  was  prevented  from  executing  vengeance 
on  the  assailant. 

"  Strike  that  fellow  and  you  strike  me !  "  said  he 
who  had  struck  the  blow. 

"  Tom  Spicer !  "  exclaimed  Bobby,  astonished  and 
chagrined  at  tha  presence  of  the  runaway. 


THE    ADVENTURES    02    BOBttY    BRIGHT.         185 


CHAPTER     XVI. 

IK     WHICH     BOBBY     FINDS     "  IT     IS     AN     ILL    'WIND 
THAT    BLOWS    NO    ONE    ANY    GOOD." 

A  GENTLEMAN,  who  was  sitting  near  Bobby  when 
he  made  the  remark  which  the  colored  boy  had  mis 
understood,  interfered  to  free  him  from  blame,  and 
probably  all  unpleasant  feelings  might  have  been 
saved,  if  Tom's  zeal  had  been  properly  directed.  As 
it  was,  the  waiter  retired  with  his  bell,  vowing  ven 
geance  upon  his  assailant. 

"  How  came  you  here,  Tom  ?  "  asked  Bobby,  when 
the  excitement  had  subsided. 

"  You  don't  get  rid  of  me  so  easily,"  replied  Tom, 
laughing. 

Bobby  called  to  mind  the  old  adage  that  "  a  bad 
penny  is  sure  to  return;  "  and,  if  it  had  not  been  a 
very  uncivil  remark,  he  would  have  said  it. 

"  I  didn't  expect  to  see  you  again  at  present,"  he 
observed,  hardly  knowing  what  to  say  or  do. 


188  NOW  OR  NEVER;  OR, 

"  I  suppose  not ;  but  as  I  didn't  mean  you  should 
expect  me,  I  kept  out  of  sight.  Only  for  that  darkey 
you  wouldn't  have  found  me  out  so  soon.  I  like  you, 
Bob,  in  spite  of  all  you  have  done  to  get  rid  of  me, 
and  I  wasn't  a  going  to  let  the  darkey  thrash  you." 

"  You  only  made  matters  worse." 

"  That  is  all  the  thanks  I  get  for  hitting  him  for 
you." 

"  I  am  sorry  you  hit  him ;  at  the  same  time  I  sup 
pose  you  meant  to  do  me  a  service,  and  I  thank  you, 
not  for  the  blow  you  struck  the  black  boy,  but  for 
your  good  intentions."  • 

"  That  sounds  better.     I  meant  well,  Bob." 

"  I  dare  say  you  did.     But  how  came  you  here  ?  " 

"  Why,  you  see,  I  was  bound  to  go  with  you  any 
how,  or  at  least  to  keep  within  hail  of  you.  You 
told  me,  you  know,  that  you  were  going  in  the  steam 
boat  ;  and  after  I  left  the  shop,  what  should  I  see 
but  a  big  picture  of  a  steamboat  on  a  wall.  It 
said, '  Bath,  Gardiner,  and  Hallowell,'  on  the  bill ;  and 
I  knew  that  was  where  you  meant  to  go.  So  this 
afternoon  I  hunts  round  and  finds  the  steamboat.  ] 
thought  I  never  should  have  fourd  it ;  but  here  I  am." 


THE  ADVENTURES  O¥  BOBBY  BRIGHT.    18H 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  Going  into  the  book  business,"  replied  Tom,  with 
a  smile. 

"  Where  are  your  books?  " 

"  Down  stairs,  in  the  cellar  of  the  steamboat,  or 
whatever  you  call  it." 

"  Where  did  you  get  them  ?  " 

"  Bought  'em,  of  course." 

"Did  you?    tWhere?" 

"  Well,  I  don't  remember  th.e  name  of  the  street 
now.  I  could  go  right  there  if  I  was  in  the  city, 
though." 

"  Would  they  trust  you  ?  " 

Tom  hesitated.  The  lies  he  had  told  that  morning 
had  done  him  no  good  —  had  rather  injured  his  cause; 
and,  though  he  had  no  principle  that  forbade  lying, 
he  questioned  its  policy  in  the  present  instance. 

"  I  paid  part  down,  and  they  trusted  me  part." 

"  How  many  books  you  got  ?  " 

"  Twenty  dollars  worth.  I  paid  eight  dollari 
down." 

"You  did?  Where  did  you  get  the  eight  dol 
lars?" 


190  NOW  OR  NEVER;    OK, 

Bobby  remembered  the  money  Tom's  father  had 
lost  several  weeks  before,  and  immediately  connected 
that  circumstance  with  his  present  ability  to  pay  so 
large  a  sum. 

Tom  hesitated  again,  but  he  was  never  at  a  loss  for 
an  answer. 

"  My  mother  gave  it  to  me." 

"  Your  mother  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir!  "  replied  Tom,  boldly,  and  in  that  pe- 

• 

culiarly  bluff  manner^  which  is  almost  always  good 
evidence  that  the  boy  is  lying. 
"  But  you  ran  away  from  home." 
"  That's  so  ;  but  my  mother  knew  I  was  coming.** 
"Did  she?" 
"  To  be  sure  she  did." 
"  You  didn't  say  so  before." 
"  I  can't  tell  all  I  know  in  a  minute." 
"  If  I  thought  your  mother  consented  to  your  com 
ing,  I  wouldn't  say  another  word." 

"  Well,  she  did ;  you  may  bet  your  life  on  that." 
"  And  your  mother  gave  you  ten  dollars  ?  " 
"  Who  said  she  gave  me  ten  dollars 5  "  asked  Tom 
a  little  sharply. 


TEE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BBIGHT.         191 

That  was  just  the  sum  his  father  had  lost,  and 
Bobby  had  unwittingly  hinted  his  suspicion. 

"  You  must  have  had  as  much  as  that  if  you  paid 
eight  on  your  books.  Your  fare  to  Boston  and  your 
steamboat  fare  must  be  two  dollars  more." 

"I "know  that;  but  look  here,  Bob;"  and  Tom 
took  from  his  pocket  five  half  dollars  and  exhibited 
them  to  his  companion.  "  She  gave  me  thirteen 
dollars."  >• 

Notwithstanding  this  argument,  Bobby  felt  almost 
sure  ttat  the  lost  ten  dollars  was  a  part  of  his  capital. 

"  I  will  tell  you  my  story  now,  Bob,  if  you  like. 
You  condemned  me  without  a  hearing,  as  Jim  Guthrie 
said  when  they  sent  him  to  the  House  of  Correction 
for  getting  drunk." 

"  Go  ahead." 

The  substance  of  Tom's  story  was,  that  his  father 
drank  so  hard,  and  was  such  a  tyrant  in  the  house, 
that  he  could  endure  it  no  longer.  His  father  and 
mother  did  not  agree,  as  any  one  might  have  sus 
pected.  His  mother,  encouraged  by  the  success  of 
Bobby,  thought  that  Tom  might  do  something  of  the 
kind,  and  she  had  provided  him  the  money  to  buy  his 
stock  of  books. 


192  NOW    OK    N£VEB  ;    OR, 

Bobby  had  not  much  confidence  in  this  story.  He 
had  been  deceived  once ;  besides,  it  was  not  con 
sistent  with  his  previous  narrative,  and  he  had  not  be 
fore  hinted  that  he  had  obtained  his  mother's  consent. 
But  Tom  was  eloquent,  and  protested  that  he  had 
reformed,  and  meant  to  do  well.  He  declared,  by  all 
that  was  good  and  great,  Bobby  should  never  have 
reason  to  be  ashamed  of  him. 

o 

Our  little  merchant^was  troubled.  He  could  not 
now  get  rid  of  Tom  without  actually  quarrelling  with 
him,  or  running  away  from  him.  He  did  not  wish  to 
do  the  former,  and  it  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  do 
the  latter.  Besides,  there  was  hope  that,  the  runaway 
would  do  well :  and  if  he  did,  when  he  carried  the 
profits  of  his  trade  home,  his  father  would  forgive 
him.  One  thing  was  certain;  if  he  returned  to 
Riverdale  he  would  be  what  he  had  been  before. 

For  these  reasons  Bobby  finally,  but  very  reluc 
tantly,  consented  that  Tom  should  remain  with  him, 
resolving,  however,  that,  if  he  did  not  behave  him 
self,  ne  would  leave  him  at  once. 

Before  morning  he  had  another  reason.  When  the 
steamer  got  out  into  the  open  bay,  Bobby  was  sea- 


THE    ADVENIUKES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.  193 

sick.  He  retired  to  his  berth  with  a  dreadful  head 
ache  ;  as  he  described  it  afterwards,  it  seemed  just  aa 
though  that  great  walking  beam  was  smashing  up 
and  r'own  right  in  the  midst  of  his  brains.  He  had 
never  felt  so  ill  before  in  his  life,  and  was  very  sure, 
in  his  inexperience,  that  something  worse  than  mere 
seasickness  ailed  him. 

He  told  Tom,  who  was  not  in  the  least  affected, 
how  he  felt ;  whereupon  the  runaway  blustered 
round,  got  the  steward  and  the  captain  into  the 
cabin,  and  was  very  sure  that  Bobby  would  die  be 
fore  morning,  if  we  may  judge  by  the  fuss  he  made. 

The  captain  was  angry  at  being  called  from  the 
pilot  house  for  nothing,  and  threatened  to  throw  Tom 
overboard  if  he  didn't  stop  his  noise.  The  steward, 
however,  was  a  kind-hearted  man,  and  assured  Bobby 
that  passengers  were  often  a  great  deal  sicker  than 
he  was ;  but  he  promised  to  do  something  for  his  re 
lief,  and  Tom  went  with  him  to  his  state  room  ior 
the  desired  remedy. 

The  potion  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a 
table  spoonful  of  brandy,  which  Bobby,  who  had 
conscientious  scruples  about  drinking  ardent  spirits, 
17 


194  NOW    OB    NEVER  ;    OB, 

at  first  refused  to  take.  Then  Tom  argued  the 
point,  and  the  sick  boy  yielded.  The  dose  made 
him  sicker  yet,  and  nature  came  to  his  relief,  and  in 
a  little  while  he  felt  better. 

Tom  behaved  like  a  good  nurse ;  he  staid  by  his 
friend  till  he  went  to  sleep,  and  then  "  turned  in " 
upon  a  settee  beneath  his  berth.  The  boat  pitched 
and  tumbled  about  so  in  the  heavy  sea  that  Bobby 
did  not  sleep  long,  and  when  he  woke  he  found  Tom 
ready  to  assist  him.  But  our  hero  felt  better,  and 
entreated  Tom  to  go  to  sleep  again.  He  made  the 
best  of  his  unpleasant  situation.  Sleep  was  not  to 
be  wooed,  and  he  tried  to  pass  away  the  dreary  hours 
in  thinking  of  Biverdale  and  the  dear  ones  there. 
His  mother  "was  asleep,  and  Annie  was  asleep;  and 
that  was  about  all  the  excitement  he  could  get  up 
even  on  the  home  question.  He  could  not  build 
castles  in  the  air,  for  seasickness  and  castle  building 
do  not  agree.  The  gold  and  purple  clouds  would  be 
black  in  spite  of  him.  and  the  aerial  structure  he  es 
sayed  to  build  would  pitch  and  tumble  about,  for  ali 
the  world,  just  like  a  steamboat  in  a  heavy  sea.  A.* 
often  as  he  got  fairly  into  it,  he  was  violently  rolled 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         195 

out,  and  in  a  twinkling  found  himself  in  his  narrow 
berth,  awfully  seasick. 

He  went  to  sleep  again  at  last,  and  the  long  nigh 
passed  away.  When  he  woke  in  the  morning,  he  felt 
tolerably  well,  and  was  thankful  that  he  had  got  out 
oPthat  scrape.  But  before  he  could  dress  himself,  he 
heard  a  terrible  racket  on  deck.  The  steam  whistle 
was  shrieking,  the  bell  was  banging,  and  he  heard 
the  hoarse  bellowing  of  the  captain.  It  was  certain 
that  something  had  happened,  or  was  about  to  hap 
pen. 

Then  the  boat  stopped,  rolling  heavily  in  the  sea. 
Tom  was  not  there ;  he  had  gone  on  deck.  Bobby 
was  beginning  to  consider  what  a  dreadful  thing  a 
wreck  Avas,  when  Tom  appeared. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  asked  Bobby,  with  some 
appearance  of  alarm. 

"  Fog,"  replied  Tom.  "  It  is  so  thick  you  can  cut 
it  with  a  hatchet." 

"  Is  that  all  ?  " 

*'  That's  enough.' 

"  Where  are  we  ?  " 

"  That  is  just  what  the  pilot  would  like  to  know. 


196  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;    OK, 

They  can't  see  ahead  a  bit,  and  don't  know  where 
we  are." 

Bobby  went  on  deck.  The  ocean  rolled  beneath 
them,  but  there  was  nothing  but  fog  to  be  seen  above 
and  around  them.  The  lead  was  heaved  every  few 
moments,  and  the  steamer  crept  slowly  along  tilt  it 
was  found  the  water  shoaled  rapidly,  when  the  cap 
tain  ordered  the  men  to  let  go  the  anchor. 

There  they  were ;  the  fog  was  as  obstinate  as  a 
mule,  and  would  not  "lift."  Hour  after  hour  they 
waited,  for  the  captain  was  a  prudent  man,  and  would 
not  risk  the  life  of  those  on  board  to  save  a  few 
hours'  time.  After  breakfast,  the  passengers  began 
to  display  their  uneasiness,  and  some  of  them  called 
the  captain  very  hard  names,  because  he  would  not 
go  on.  Almost  every  body  grumbled,  and  made  them 
selves  miserable. 

"  Nothing  to  do  and  nothing  to  read,"  growled  a 
nicely-dressed  gentleman,  as  he  yawned  and  stretched 
himself  to  manifest  his  sensation  of  ennui. 

"  Nothing  to  read,  eh  ?  "  thought  Bobby.  "  We 
•will  soon  supply  that  want." 

Calling  Tom,  they  went  down  to  the  main  deck, 
vhere  the  baggage  had  been  placed. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         197 

"  Now's  our  time,"  said  he,  as  he  proceeded  to  un 
lock  one  of  the  trunks  that  contained  his  booka. 
"Now  or  never." 

'*  I  am  with  you,"  replied  Tom,  catching  the  idea. 

The  books  of  the  latter  were  in  a  box,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  get  a  hammer  to  open  it ;  but  with  Bobby's 
assistance  he  soon  got  at  them. 

"  Buy  'The  Wayfarer,'  "  said  Bobby,  when  he  re 
turned  to  "the  saloon,  and  placed  a  volume  in  the 
hands,  of  the  yawning  gentleman.  "  Best  book  of  the 
season  ;  only  one  dollar." 

"  That  I  will,  and  glad  of  the  chance,"  replied  the 
gentleman.  "  I  would  give  five  dollars  for  any  thing, 
if  it  were  only  the  '  Comic  Almanac.'." 

Others  were  of  the  same  mind.  There  was  no 
present  prospect  that  the  fog  would  lift,  and  before 
dinner  time  our  merchant  had  sold  fifty  copies  of 
"  The  Wayfarer."  Tom,  whose  books  were  of  an  in 
ferior  description,  and  who  was  inexperienced  as  a 
salesman,  disposed  of  twenty,  which  was  more  than 
half  of  his  stock.  The  fog  was  a  godsend  to  both 
of  them,  and  they  reaped  a  rich  harvest  from  the  oc 
casion,  for  almost  all  the  passengers  seemed  willing 
17* 


198  NOW    OK    NEVEK ;    OK, 

to  spend  their  money  freely  for  the  means  of  occupy 
ing  the  heavy  hours,  and  driving  away  that  dreadful 
ennui  which  reigns  supreme  in  a  fog-bound  steamer. 
About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  the  fog  blew 
over,  and  the  boat  proceeded  on  her  voyage,  and  be 
fore  sunset  our  young  merchants  were  safely  landed 
•tBatU. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         I9i> 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

IN  WHICH  TOM  HAS  A  GOOD  TIME,  AND  BOBBY  MEKT8 
WITH  A  TERRIBLE  MISFORTUNE. 

BATH  afforded  our  young  merchants  an  excellent 
market  for  their  wares,  and  they  remained  there  the 
rest  of  the  week.  They  then  proceeded  to  Bruns 
wick,  where  their  success  was  equally  flattering. 

Thus  far  Tom  had  done  very  well,  though  Bobby 
had  frequent  occasion  to  remind  him  of  the  pledges  he 
had  given  to  conduct  himself  in  a  proper  manner.  He 
would  swear  now  and  then,  from  the  force  of  habit ; 
but  invariably,  when  Bobby  checked  him,  he  promised 
to  do  better. 

At  Brunswick  Tom  sold  the  last  of  his  books,  and 
was  in  possession  of  about  thirty  dollars,  twelve  of 
which  he  owed  the  publisher  who  had  furnished  his 
stock.  This  money  seemed  to  burn  in  his  pocket. 
He  Lad  the  means  of  having  a  good  time,  and  it  went 


200  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;    .  TR, 

hard  with  him  to  plod  along  as  Bobby  did,  careful  to 
save  every  penny  he  could. 

"  Come,  Bob,  let's  get  a  horse  and  chaise  and  have 
a  ride  —  what  do  you  say  ?  "  proposed  Tom,  on  the 
day  he  finished  selling  his  books. 

"  I  can't  spare  the  time  or  the  money,"  replied 
Bobby,  decidedly. 

"  What  is  the  use  of  having  money  if  we  can't 
spend  it  ?  It  is  a  first  rate  day,  and  we  should  have 
A  good  time." 

"  I  can't  afford  it.  I  have  a  great  many  books  to 
sell." 

"  About  a  hundred  ;  you  can  sell  them  fast  enough." 

"  I  don't  spend  my  money  foolishly." 

"  It  wouldn't  be  foolishly.  I  have  sold  out,  and  1 
am  bound  to  have  a  little  fun  now." 

"  You  never  will  succeed  if  you  do  business  in  tnat 
way." 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  You  will  spend  your  money  as  fast  as  you  get  it." 

"  Pooh  !  we  can  get  a  horse  and  chaise  for  the  after 
noon  for  two  dollars.  That  is  not  much." 

"  Considerable,  I  should  say.     But  if  you  begin, 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BBIGHT.        20^ 

there  is  no  knowing  where  to  leave  off.  I  make  it  a 
rule  not  to  spend  a  single  cent  foolishly,  and  if  I 
don't  begin,  I  shall  never  do  it." 

"  I  don't  mean  to  spend  all  I  get ;  only  a  little  now 
and  then,"  persisted  Tom. 

"  Don't  spend  the  first  dollar  for  nonsense,  and 
then  you  won't  spend  the  second.  Besides,  waen  I 
have  any  money  to  spare,  I  mean  to  buy  books  with 
it  for  my  library." 

"  Humbug  !     Your  library  !  " 

"  Yes,  my  library ;  I  mean  to  have  a  library  one 
of  these  days." 

"  I  don't  want  any  library,  and  I  mean  to  spend 
Borne  of  my  money  in  having  a  good  time  ;  and  if  you 
won't  go  with  me,  I  shall  go  alone  —  that's  all." 

"  You  can  do  as  you  please,  of  course  ;  but  I  ad 
vise  you  to  keep  your  money.  You  will  want  it  to 
buy  another  stock  of  books." 

"  I  shall  have  enough  for  that.  What  do  you  say? 
will  you  go  with  me  or  not  ?  " 

"  No,  I  will  not." 

"  Enough  said  ;  then  I  shall  go  alone,  or  get  some 
fellow  to  go  with  me." 


202  NOW  OK  NEVEK;  OB, 

**  Consider  well  before  you  go,"  pleaded  Bobby 
who  had  sense  enough  to  see  that  Tom's  proposed 
14  good  time  "  would  put  back,  if  not  entirely  prevent, 
tne  reform  he  was  working  out. 

He  then  proceeded  to  reason  with  him  in  a  ^ery 
earnest  and  feeling  manner,  telling  him  he  would  not 
only  spend  all  his  money,  but  completely  unfit  himself 
for  business.  What  he  proposed  to  do  was  nothing 
more  nor  less  than  extravagance,  and  it  would  lead 
him  to  dissipation  and  ruin. 

"  To-day  I  am  going  to  send  one  hundred  dollars  to 
Mr.  Bayard,"  continued  Bobby ;  "  for  I  am  afraid  to 
have  so  much  money  with  me.  I  advise  you  to  send 
your  money  to  your  employer." 

"  Humph  !  Catch  me  doing  that !  I  am  bound  to 
have  a  good  time,  any  how." 

**  At  least,  send  the  money  you  owe  him." 

"  I'll  bet  I  won't." 

"  Well,  do  as  you  please ;  I  have  said  all  I  have  to 
say," 

"  You  are  a  fool,  Bob  !  "  exclaimed  Tom$  who  had 
evidently  used  Bobby  as  much  as  he  wished,  and  no 
longer  cared  to  speak  soft  words  to  him. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OP    BOBBY    BBIGHT,         203 

"  Perhaps  I  am ;  but  I  know  tetter  than  to  spend 
my  money  upon  fast  horses.  If  you  will  go,  I  can't 
help  it.  I  am  sorry  you  are  going  astray."  / 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  you  young  monkey  ?  " 
said  Tom,  angrily. 

This  was  Tom  Spicer,  the  bully.  It  sounded  like 
him  ;  and  with  a  feeling  of  sorrow  Bobby  resigned 
the  hopes  he  had  cherished  of  making  a  good  boy  of 
him. 

"  We  had  better  part  now,"  added  our  hero,  sadly. 

"  I'm  willing." 

"  I  shall  leave  Brunswick  this  afternoon  for  the 
towns  up  the  river.  I  hope  no  harm  will  befall  you 
Good  by,  Tom." 

"  Go  it !  I  have  heard  your  preaching  about  long 
enough,  and  I  am  more  glad  to  get  rid  of  you  than 
you  are  to  get  rid  of  me." 

Bobby  walked  away  towards  the  house  where  lie 
had  left  the  trunk  containing  his  books,  while  Tom 
made  his  way  towards  a  livery  stable.  The  boys  had 
been  in  the  place  for  several  days,  and  had  made  some 
acquaintances  ;  so  Tom  had  no  difficulty  in  procuring 
«,  companion  for  his  proposed  ride. 


204  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;    OR, 

Our  hero  wrote  a  letter  that  afternoon  to  Mr.  Bay 
ard,  in  which  he  narrated  all  the  particulars  of  his 
journey,  his  relations  with  Tom  Spicer,  and  the  suc 
cess  that  had  attended  his  labors.  At  the  ban*  ne 
procured  a  hundred  dollar  note  for  his  small  bills,  and 
enclosed  it  in  the  letter. 

He  felt  sad  about  Tom.  The  runaway  had  done 
so  well,  had  been  so  industrious,  and  shown  such  a 
tractable  spirit,  that  he  had  been  very  much  encour 
aged  about  him.  But  if  he  meant  to  be  wild  again,  — 
for  it  was  plain  that  the  ride  was  only  "  the  beginning 
of  sorrows,"  — it  was  well  that  they  should  part. 

By  the  afternoon  stage  our  hero  proceeded  to  Gar 
diner,  passing  through  several  smaller  towns,  which 
did  not  promise  a  very  abundant  harvest.  His  usual 
success  attended  him;  for  wherever  he  went,  people 
seemed  to  be  pleased  with  him,  as  Squire  Lee  had  de 
clared  they  would  be.  His  pleasant,  honest  face  was 
a  capital  recommendation,  and  his  eloquence  seldom 
failed  to  achieve  the  result  which  eloquence  has  ever 
adhitved  from  Demosthenes  down  to  the  present  day. 

Our  limits  do  not  permit  us  to  follow  him  ir,  j  1!  Vis 
peregrinations  from  town  to  town,  arid  from  ho'i*&  to 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BEIGHT.   '  203 

House  ;  so  we  pass  over  the  next  fortnight,  at  the  ond 
of  which  time  we  find  him  at  Augusta.  He  had  sold 
all  his  hooks  but  twenty,  and  had  that  day  remitted 
eighty  dollars  more  to  Mr.  Bayard.  It  was  Wednes 
day,  and  he  hoped  to  sell  out  so  as  to  he  able  to  take 
the  next  steamer  for  Boston,  which  wt.s  advertised  to 
sail  on  the  following  day. 

He  had  heard  nothing  from  Tom  since  their  part 
ing,  and  had  given  up  all  expectation  of  meeting  him 
again  ;  but  that  bad  penny  maxim  proved  true  once 
more,  for,  as  he  was  walking  through  one  of  the 
streets  of  Augusta,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  meet 
him  —  and  this  time  it  was  indeed  a  misfortune. 

"  Hallo,  Bobby !  "  shouted  the  runaway,  as  famil 
iarly  as  though  nothing  had  happened  to  disturb  the 
harmony  of  their  relations. 

"  Ah,  Tom,  I  didn't  expect  to  see  you  again,"  re 
plied  Bobby,  not  very  much  rejoiced  to  meet  his  lat^ 
companion. 

"  I  suppose  not ;  but  here  I  am,  as  good  as  new. 
Have  you  sold  out  ?  " 

"  No,  not  quite." 

"  How  many  have  yen  left  *  " 
18 


206  NOW    OR    NEVEK  ;    OK, 

"About  twenty;  but  I  thought,  Tom,  you  would 
have  returned  to  Boston  before  this  time." 

"  No  ;  "  and  Tom  did  not  seem  to  be  in  very  good 
spirits. 

"  Where  are  you  going  now  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  ought  to  have  taken  your  ad 
vice,  Bobby." 

This  was  a  concession,  and  our  hero  began  to  feel 
some  sympathy  for  his  companion  —  as  who  does  not 
when  the  erring  confess  their  faults  ? 

"  I  am  sony  you  did  not." 

"  I  got  in  with  some  pretty  hard  fellows  down 
there  to  Brunswick,"  continued  Tom,  rather  sheep 
ishly. 

"  And  spent  all  your  money,"  added  Bobby,  who 
could  readily  understand  the  reason  why  Tom  had 
put  on  his  humility  again. 

"  Not  all." 

"  How  much  have  you  left  ?  " 

"  Not  much,"  replied  he,  evasively.  "  I  don't 
know  what  I  shall  do.  I  am  in  a  strange  place,  and 
have  no  friends." 

Boboy'a    sympathies    were    aroused,    and    withou 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    HEIGHT.         207 

reflection,  lie  promised  to  be  a  friend  in  his  ex« 
tremity. 

"  I  will  stick  by  you  this  time,  Bob,  come  what 
will.  I  will  do  just  as  you  say,  now." 

Our  merchant  was  a  little  flattered  by  this  unre- 
seiTed  display  of  confidence.  He  did  not  give  weight 
enough  to  the  fact  that  it  was  adversity  alone  which 
made  Tom  so  humble.  He  was  in  trouble,  and  gave 
him  all  the  guarantee  he  could  ask  for  his  future  good 
behavior.  He  could  not  desert  him  now  he  was  in 
difficulty. 

"  You  shall  help  me  sell  my  books,  and  then  we 
will  return  to  Boston  together.  Have  you  money 
enough  left  to  pay  your  employer  ?  " 

Tom  hesitated  ;  something  evidently  hung  heavily 
upon  his  mind. 

"  I  don't  know  how  it  will  be  after  I  have,  paid  my 
expenses  to  Boston,"  he  replied,  averting  his  face. 

Bobby  was  perplexed  by  this  evasive  answer ;  bu* 
as  Tom  seemed  so  reluctant  to  go  into  details,  he 
reserved  his  inquiries  for  a  more  convenient  season. 

"  Now,  Tom,  you  take  the  houses  on  lhat  side  of 
the  street,  and  I  will  take  those  upon  this  side.  You 
»^«>11  have  the  profits  on  all  you  sell  " 


208  NOW  OB  NEVEK;  OK, 

"  You  are  a  first  rate  fellow,  Bob ;  and  I  only 
wish.  I  had  done  as  you  wanted  me  to  do." 

"  Can't  be  helped  now,  and  we  will  do  the  next 
best  thing,"  replied  Bobby,  as  he  left  his  companion 
to  enter  a  house. 

Tom  did  very  well,  and  by  the  middle  of  the  after 
noon  they  had  sold  all  the  books  but  four.  "  The 
Wayfarer "  had  been  liberally  advertised  in  that  vi 
cinity,  and  the  work  was  in  great  demand.  Bobby's 
heart  grew  lighter  as  the  volumes  disappeared  from 
his  valise,  and  already  he  had  begun  to  picture  the 
scene  which  would  ensue  upon  his  return  to  the  little 
black  house.  How  glad  his  mother  would  be  to  see 
him,  and,  he  dared  believe,  how  happy  Annie  would 
be  as  she  listened  to  the  account  of  his  journey  in  the 
State  of  Maine !  Wouldn't  she  be  astonished  when 
he  told  her  about  the  steamboat,  about  the  fog,  and 
about  the  wild  region  at  the  mouth  of  the  beautiful 
Kennebec ! 

Poor  Bobby !  the  brightest  dream  often  ends  in 
sadness ;  and  a  greater  trial  than  any  he  had  been 
called  upon  to  endure  was  yet  in  store  for  him. 

As  he  walked  a'eng,  thinking  of  Riverdale  and  iti 


THE    ADVENTURES    OP    BOBBY    BKIGHT.         209 

loved  ones,  Tom  came  out  of  a  grocery  store  where  he 
had  just  sold  a  book. 

"  Here,  Bob,  is  a  ten  dollar  bill.     I  believe  I  have 

• 
sold  ten  books  for  you,"  said  Tom,  after  they  had 

walked  some  distance.  "  You  had  better  keep  the 
money  now ;  and  while  I  think  of  it,  you  had  better 
take  what  I  have  left  of  my  former  sales ;  "  and  Tom 
handed  him  another  ten  dollar  bill. 

Bobby  noticed  that  Tom  seemed  very  much,  con 
fused  and  embarrassed  ;  but  he  did  not  observe  that 
the  two  bills  he  had  handed  him  were  on  the  samp 
bank. 

"  Then  you  had  ten  dollars  left  after  your  frolic," 
he  remarked,  as  he  took  the  last  bill. 

;'  About  that ;  "  and  Tom  glanced  uneasily  behind 
him. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Tom  ? "  asked 
Bobby,  who  did  not  know  what  to  make  of  his  com 
panion's  embarrassment. 

"  Nothing,  Bob  ;  let  us  walk  a  little  faster.  We 
had  better  turn  up  this  street,"  continued  Tom,  as, 
vith  a  quick  pace,  he  took  the  direction  indicated. 

Bobby  began  to  fear  that  Tom  had  been  doing 
18* 


210  NI  v  OR  NEVER;  OB, 

lomething  wrong;  and  the  suspicion  A\as  confirmed 
by  seeing  two  men  running  with  all  their  might 
towards  them.  Tom  perceived  them  at  the  same 
moment. 

"  Run  !  "  he  shouted,  and  suiting  the  action  to  the 
word,  he  took  to  his  heels,  and  fled  up  the  street  into 
which  he  had  proposed  to  turn. 

Bobby  did  not  run,  but  stopped  short  where  he 
was  till  the  men  came  up  to  him. 

"  Grab  him,"  said  one  of  them,  "  and  I  will  catch 
the  other." 

The  man  collared  Bobby,  and  in  spite  of  all  the 
resistance  he  could  make,  dragged  him  down  the 
street  to  the  grocery  store  in  which  Tom  had  sold  his 
last  book. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  this  ?  "  asked  Bobby,  his 
blood  boiling  with  indignation  at  the  harsh  treatment 
to  which  he  had  been  suojected. 

"  We  have  got  you,  my  hearty,"  replied  the  man, 
releasing  his  hold. 

No  sooner  was  the  grasp  of  the  man  removed,  than 
Bobby,  who  determined  on  this  as  on  former  occa 
sions  to  stand  upon  his  inalienable  rights,  bolted  for 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         21. 

the  door,  and  ran  away  with  all  his  speed.  But  his 
captor  was  too  fleet  for  him,  and  he  was  immediately 
retaken.  To  make  him  sure  this  time,  his  arms  were 
tied  behind  him,  and  he  was  secured  to  the  countel1 
of  the  shop. 

In  a  few  moments  the  other  man  returned  dragging 
Tom  in  triumph  after  him.  By  this  time  quite  a 
crowd  had  collected,  which  nearly  filled  the  store. 

Bobby  was  confounded  at  the  sudden  change  that 
had  come  over  his  fortunes  ;  but  seeing  that  resist 
ance  would  be  vain,  he  resolved  to  submit  with  tne 

4 

best  grace  he  could. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  what  all  this  means  ?  "  he 
inquired,  indignantly. 

The  crowd  laughed  in  derision. 

"  This  is  the  chap  that  stole  the  wallet,  I  will  bo 
bound,"  said  one,  pointing  to  Tom,  who  stood  in 
surly  silence  awaiting  his  fate. 

"  He  is  the  one  who  came  into  the  store,"  replied 
the  shopkeeper. 

"  /  haven't  stole  any  wallet,"  protested  Bobby, 
who  now  understood  the  whole  affair. 

The  names  of  the  two  boys  were  taken,  and  war* 


i!2  NOW  OB  NEVER;  OR, 

\ 

rants  procured  for  their  detention.  They  were 
searched,  and  upon  Tom  was  found  the  lost  wallet, 
and  upon  Bobby  two  ten  dollar  bills,  which  the  loser 
was  \villing  to  swear  had  been  in  the  wallet.  The 
evidence  therefore  was  conclusive,  and  they  were  both 
sent  to  jail. 

Poor  Bobby  !  the  inmate  of  a  prison  ! 

The  law  took  its  course,  and  in  due  time  both  of 
them  were  sentenced  to  two  years'  imprisonment  in 
the  State  Reform  School.  Bobby  was  innocent,  but 
he  could  not  make  his  innocence  appear.  He  had 

i 

been  the  companion  of  Tom,  the  real  thief,  and  part 
of  the  money  had  been  found  upon  his  person.  Torn 
was  too  mean  to  exonerate  him,  and  even  had  the 
hardihood  to  exult  over  his  misfortune. 

At  the  end  of  three  days  they  reached  the  town  in 
which  the  Reform  School  is  located,  and  were  duly 
committed  for  their  long  term. 

Poor  Bobby! 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BKIGHT.        21 3 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

IN     WHICH     BOBBY     TAKES      FKENCH      LEATE,     AND 
CAMPS    IN    THE    WO6DS. 

THE  intelligence  of  Bobby's  misfortune  reached 
Mr.  Bayard,  in  Boston,  by  means  of  the  newspapers. 
To  the  country  press  an  item  is  a  matter  of  consider 
able  importance,  and  the  alleged  offence  against  the 
peace  and  dignity  of  the  State  of  Maine  was  duly 
heralded  to  the  inquiring  public  as  a  "  daring  rob 
bery."  The  reporter  who  furnished  the  facts  in  the 
case  for  publication  was  not  entirely  devoid  of  that 
essential  qualification  of  the  country  item  writer,  a 
lively  imagination,  and  was  obliged  to  dress  up  the 
particulars  a  little,  in  order  to  produce  the  necessary 
amount  of  wonder  and  indignation.  It  was  stated 
that  one  of  the  two  young  men  had  been  prowling 
about  the  place  for  several  days,  ostensibly  for  the 
purpose  of  sell  ng  books,  but  really  with  the  intention 


214  NOW  OR  NEVEK;  OK, 

of  stealing  whatever  he  could  lay  his  hands  upon.  It 
was  suggested  that  the  boys  were  in  league  with  an 
organized  band  of  robbers,  whose  nefarious  purposes 
would  be  defeated  by  the  timely  arrest  of  these  young 
villains.  The  paper  hinted  that  further  depredations 
would  probably  be  discovered,  and  warned  people  to 

beware  of  ruffians  strolling  about  the  countrv  in  the 

• 
guise  of  pedlers. 

The  writer  of  this  thrilling  paragraph  must  hav  5 
had  reason  to  believe  that  he  had  discharged  his 
whole  duty  to  the  public,  and  that  our  hero  was  duly 
branded  as  a  desperate  fellow.  No  doubt  he  believed 
Bobby  was  an  awful  monster ;  for  at  the  conclusion  of 
his  remarks  he  introduced  some  severe  strictures  on 
the  lenity  of  the  magistrate,  because  he  had  made  the 
sentence  two  years,  instead  of  five,  which  the  writer 
thought  the  atrocious  crime  deserved.  But,  then,  the 
justice  differed  from  him  in  politics,  which  may  ac 
count  for  the  severity  of  the  article. 

Mr.  Bayard  read  this  precious  paragraph  with  min 
gled  grief  and  indignation.  He  understood  the  case 
at  a  glance.  Tom  Spicer  had  joined  him,  and  the 
little  merchant  had  been  involve i  in  his  crime.  He 


TH1    ADVENTXJBES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT          215 

W&B  sure  that  Bobby  had  ha/1  no  part  in  stealing  the 
money.  One  so  noble  and  ';rue  as  he  had  been  could 
not  steal,  he  reasoned.  It  was  contrary  to  experi 
ence,  contrary  to  common  sense. 

He  was  very  much  disturbed.  This  intelligence 
would  be  a  severe  blow  to  the  poor  boy's  mother,  and 
he  had  not  the  courage  to  destroy  all  her  bright  hopes 
by  writing  her  the  terrible  truth.  He  was  confident 
that  Bobby  was  innocent,  and  that  his  being  in  the 
company  of  Tom  Spicer  had  brought  the  imputation 
upon  him ;  so  he  could  not  let  the  matter  take  its 
course.  He  was  determined  to  do  something  to  pro 
cure  his  liberty  and  restore  his  reputation. 

Squire  Lee  was  in  the  city  that  day,  and  had  left 
his  store  only  half  an  hour  before  he  discovered  the 
paragraph.  He  immediately  sent  to  his  hotel  for 
him,  and  together  they  devised  means  to  effect  Bob 
by's  liberation.  The  squire  was  even  more  confident 
than  Mr.  Bayard  that  our  hero  was  innocent  of  the 
crime  charged  upon  him.  They  agreed  to  proceed 
immediately  to  the  State  of  Maine,  and  use  their  in 
fluence  in  obtaining  his  pardon.  The  bookseller  was 
a  man  jf influence  in  the  community,  and  was  as  well 


216  NOW  OK  NEVEB;  OB, 

knowii  in  Maine  as  in  Massachusetts  ;  but  to  make 
their  application  the  surer,  he  procured  letters  of  in 
troduction  from  some  of  the  most  distinguished  men 
in  Boston  to  the  governor  and  other  official  persons 
in  Maine. 

We  will  leave  them  now  to  do  the  work  they  had 
so  generously  undertaken,  and  return  to  the  Reform 
School,  where  Bobby  and  Tom  were  confined.  The 
latter  took  the  matter  very  coolly.  He  seemed  to 
feel  that  he  deserved  his  sentence,  but  he  took  a  ma 
licious  delight  in  seeing  Bobby  the  companion  of  his 
captivity.  He  even  had  the  hardihood  to  remind  him 
of  the  blow  he  had  struck  him  more  than  two  months 
before,  telling  him  that  he  had  vowed  vengeance 
then,  and  now  the  time  had  come.  He  was  satisfied. 

"  You  know  I  didn't  steal  the  money,  or  have  any 
thing  to  do  with  it,"  said  Bobby. 

"  Some  of  it  was  found  upon  you,  though,"  sneered 
Tom,  maliciously. 

"  You  know  how  it  came  there,  if  no  one  else 
does." 

"  Of  course  I  do  ;  but  I  like  your  company  too  well 
to  get  rid  of  you  so  easy." 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BEIGHT.    2  IT 

"  The  Lord  is  with  the  innocent,"  replied  Bobby ; 
"  and  something  tells  me  that  I  shall  not  stay  in  (his 
place  a  great  while." 

"  Going  to  run  away  ?  "  asked  Tom,  with  interest, 
and  suddenly  dropping  his  malicious  look. 

"  I  know  I  am  innocent  of  any  crime  ;  and  I  know 
that  the  Lord  will  not  let  me  stay  here  a  great  while." 

"  What  do  you  mean  to  do,  Bob  ?  " 

Bobby  made  no  reply  ;  he  felt  that  he  had  had 
more  confidence  in  Tom  than  he  deserved,  and  he 
determined  to  keep  his  own  counsel  in  future.  He 
had  a  purpose  in  view.  His  innocence  gave  him 
courage  ;  and  perhaps  he  did  not  feel  that  sense  of 
necessity  for  submission  to  the  laws  of  the  land 
which  age  and  experience  give.  He  prayed  earnest 
ly  for  deliverance  from  the  place  in  which  he  was 
confined.  He  felt  that  he  did  not  deserve  to  be 
there  ;  and  though  it  was  a  very  comfortable  place, 
and  the  boy*  fared  as  well  as  he  wished  to  fare,  still 
it  seemed  to  him  like  a  prison.  He  was  unjustly  de 
tained  ;  and  he  not  cnly  prayed  to  be  delivered,  but 
he  resolved  to  work  out  his  own  deliverance  at  the 
first  opportunity. 
II 


218  NOW  OK  NEVER;  on, 

Knowing  that  whatever  lie  had  would  be  taken 
from  him,  he  resclved  by  some  means  to  keep  posses 
sion  of  the  twenty  dollars  he  had  about  him.  He 
had  always  kept  his  money  in  a  secret  place  in  his 
jacket  to  guard  against  accident,  and  the  officers  who 
had  searched  him  had  not  discovered  it.  But  now 
his  clothes  would  be  changed.  He  thought  of  these 
things  before  his  arrival ;  so,  when  he  reached  the 
entrance,  and  got  out  of  the  wagon,  to  open  the  gate, 
by  order  of  the  officer,  he  slipped  his  twenty  dollars 
into  a  hole  in  the  wall. 

It  so  happened  that  there  was  not  a  suit  of  clothes 
in  the  store  room  of  the  institution  which  would  fit 
him ;  and  he  was  permitted  to  wear  his  own  dress  till 
another  should  be  made.  After  his  name  and  de 
scription  had  been  entered,  and  the  superintendent 
had  read  him  a  lecture  upon  his  future  duties,  he  was 
permitted  to  join  the  other  boys,  who  were  at  work  on 
the  farm.  He  was  sent  with  half  a  dofen  others  fo 
jick  up  stones  in  a  neighboring  field.  No  officer  was 
Krith  them,  and  Bobby  was  struck  with  the  apparent 
freedom  of  the  institution,  and  he  so  expressed  him 
self  to  his  companions. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.        219 

"  Not  so  much  freedom  as  you  think  for,"  said  onet 
in  reply. 

"  I  should  think  the  fellows  would  clear  out." 

"  Not  so  easy  a  matter.  There  is  a  standing  re 
ward  of  five  dollars  to  any  one  who  brings  back  a 
runaway." 

"  They  must  catch  him  first." 

"  No  fellow  ever  got  away  yet.  They  always 
caught  him  before  he  got  ten  miles  from  the  place." 

This  was  an  important  suggestion  to  Bobby,  who 
already  had  a  definite  purpose  in  his  mind.  Like  a 
skilful  general,  he  had  surveyed  the  ground  on  his 
arrival,  and  was  at  once  prepared  to  execute  his  de 
sign. 

In  his  conversation  with  the  boys,  he  obtained  the 
history  of  several  who  had  attempted  to  escape,  and 
found  that  even  those  who  got  a  fair  start  were  taken 
on  some  public  road.  He  perceived  that  they  were 
not  good  generals,  and  he  determined  to  profit  by 
their  mistake. 

A  short  distance  from  the  institution  was  what  ap 
peared  to  be  a  very  extensive  wood.  Beyond  this, 
many  miles  distant,  he  could  see  the  ocean  glittering 
like  a  sheet  of  ice  u*der  the  setting  sun.. 


220  NOW  OR  NEVER;  OH, 

He  carefully  observed  the  hills,  and  obtained  thb 
bearings  of  various  prominent  objects  in  the  vicinity, 
which  would  aid  him  in  his  flight.  The  boys  gave 
him  all  the  information  in  their  power  about  the 
Ipcalities  of  the  country.  They  seemed  to  feel  that 
he  was  possessed  of  a  superior  spirit,  and  that  he 
would  not  long  remain  among  them ;  but,. whatever 
they  thought,  they  kept  their  own  counsel. 

Bobby  behaved  well,  and  was  so  intelligent  and 
prompt  that  he  obtained  the  confidence  of  the  super 
intendent,  who  began  to  employ  him  about  the  house, 
and  in  his  own  family.  He  was  sent  of  errands  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  conducted  himself  so  much  to 
the  satisfaction  of  his  guardians  that  he  was  not  re 
quired  to  work  in  the  field  after  the  second  day  of  his 
residence  on  the  farm. 

One  afternoon  he  was  told  that  his  clothes  were 
ready,  and  that  he  might  put  them  on  the  next  morn 
ing.  This  was  a  disagreeable  announcement ;  for 
Bobby  saw  that,  with  the  uniform  of  the  institution 
upon  his  back,  his  chance  of  escape  would  be  verj 
Blight.  But  about  sunset,  he  was  sent  by  the  super 
intendent's  lady  to  deliver  a  note  at  a  house  in  the 
icinity, 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBE?     BRIGHT.         22l 

"  Now  or  never  !  "  said  Bobby  to  himself,  after  lie 
had  left  the  house.  "  Now's  my  time." 

As  he  passed  the  gate,  he  secured  his  money,  and 
placed  it  in  the  secret  receptacle  of  his  jacket.  After 
he  had  delivered  the  letter,  he  took  the  road  and 
hastened  off  in  the  direction  of  the  wood.  His  heart 
beat  wildly  at  the  prospect  of  once  more  meeting  his 
mother,  after  nearly  four  weeks'  absence.  Annie  Lee 
would  welcome  him ;  she  would  not  believe  that  he 
was  a  thief. 

He  had  been  four  days  an  inmate  of  the  Reform 
School,  and  nothing  but  the  hope  of  soon  attaining 
his  liberty  had  kept  his  spirits  from  drooping.  He 
had  not  for  a  moment  despaired  of  getting  away. 

He  reached  the  entrance  to  the  wood,  and  taking  a 
cart  path,  began  to  penetrate  its  hidden  depths.  The 

night  darkened  upon  him  ;  he  heard  the  owl  screech 

« 

his  dismal  note,  and  the  whip-poor-will  chant  hia 
cheery  song.  A  certain  sense  of  security  now  per 
vaded  his  mind,  for  the  darkness  concealed  him  fronc 
the  world,  and  he  had  placed  six  good  miles  between 
him  and  the  prison,  as  he  considered  it. 

He   walked    on,    however,   till    he    came    to   what 
19* 


222  NOW    OK    NEVES  ;    OK, 

seemed  to  be  the  end  of  the  wood,  and  he  hoped  to 
reach  the  hlue  ocean  he  had  seen  in  the  distance  be 
fore  morning.  Leaving  the  forest,  he  emerged  into 
the  open  country.  There  was  here  and  there  a  house 
before  him ;  but  the  aspect  of  the  country  seemed 
strangely  familiar  to  him.  He  could  not  understand 
it.  He  had  never  been  in  this  part  of  the  country 
before ;  yet  there  was  a  great  house  with  two  barns 
by  the  side  of  it,  which  he  was  positive  he  had  seen 
before. 

He  walked  across  the  field  a  little  farther,  when,  to 
his  astonishment  and  dismay,  he  beheld  the  lofty  tur 
rets  of  the  State  Reform  School.  He  had  been  walk- 
i«rt  in  a  circle,  and  had  come  out  of  the  forest  near 
the  place  where  he  had  entered  it. 

Bobby,  as  the  reader  has  found  out  by  this  time, 
was  a  philosopher  as  well  as  a  hero ;  and  instead  of 
despairing  or  wasting  his  precious  time  in  vain  re 
grets  at  his  mistake,  he  laughed  a  little  to  himseli'  at 
the  blunder,  and  turned  back  into  the  woods  again. 

'•Now  or  never!"  muttered  he.  "It  will  never 
do  to  give  it  up  so." 

For  an  hour  he  walked  on,  with  his  eyee  fixed  on 


THE    ADVEXTURES    OF    BOBBY    BKIGH1.         223 

a  great  bright  star  in  the  sky.  Then  he  found  that 
the  cart  path  crooked  round,  and  he  discovered  where 
he  had  made  his  blunder.  Leaving  the  road,  he 
made  his  way  in  a  straight  line,  still  guided  by  the 
star,  till  he  came  to  a  large  sheet  of  water. 

Tho  sheet  of  water  was  an  effectual  barrier  to  his 
farther  progress ;  indeed,  he  was  so  tired  he  did  not 
feel  able  to  walk  any  more.  He  deemed  hhnself 
safe  from  immediate  pursuit  in  this  secluded  place. 
He  needed  rest,  and  he  foresaw  that  the  next  few 
days  would  be  burdened  with  fatigue  and  hardship 
which  he  must  be  prepared  to  meet. 

Bobby  was  not  nice  about  trifles,  and  his  habits 
were  such  that  he  had  no  fear  of  taking  cold.  His 
comfortable  bed  in  the  little  black  house  was  prefer 
able  to  the  cold  ground,  even  with  the  primeval  forest 
for  a  chamber ;  but  circumstances  alter  cases,  and  he 
did  not  waste  any  vain  regrets  about  the  necessity  ol 
his  position.  After  finding  a  secluded  spot  in  the 
tvood,  he  raked  the  dry  leaves  together  for  a  bed, 
and  offering  his  simple  but  fervent  prayer  to  the 
Great  Guardian  above,  he  lay  down  to  rust.  The 
owl  screamed  his  dismal  note,  and  the  whip-poor-will 


224  NOW  OK  NEVER;  OR, 

still  repeated  his  monotonous  song ;  but  they   were 
good  company  in  the  solitude  of  the  dark  forest. 

He  could  not  go  to  sleep  for  a  time,  so  strange  and 
exciting  were  the  circumstances  of  his  position.  He 
thought  of  a  thousand  things,  but  he  could  not  think 
himself  to  sleep,  as  he  was  wont  to  do.  At  last 
nature,  worn  out  by  fatigue  and  anxiety,  conqu3red 
the  circumstances,  and  he  slept. 


THE    A.PVKNTURES    OF    BOBBY    B      IGHT,         22fi 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

IN    WHICH    BOBBY    HAS   A    NARROW    ESCAPE,    A*TJ> 
GOES    TO    SEA    WITH    SAM    KAY. 

NATURE  was  kind  to  the  little  pilgrim  in  his  ex 
tremity,  and  kept  his  senses  sealed  in  grateful  slum 
ber  till  the  birds  had  sung  their  matin  song,  and  the 
gun  had  risen  high  in  the  heavens. 

Bobby  woke  with  a  start,  and  sprang  to  his  feet. 
For  a  moment  he  did  not  realize  where  he  was,  or  re 
member  the  exciting  incidents  of  the  previous  even 
ing.  He  felt  refreshed  by  his  deep  slumber,  and 
came  out  of  it  as  vigorous  as  though  he  had  slept  in 
his  bed  at  home.  Rubbing  his  eyes,  he  stared  about 
him  at  the  tall  pines  whose  foliage  canopied  his  bed, 
and  his  identity  was  soon  restored  to  him.  He  was 
Bobby  Bright  —  but  Bobby  Bright  in  trouble.  He 
was  not  the  little  merchant,  but  the  little  fugitive 
fleeing  from  the  prison  to  which  he  had  been  doomed. 


226  NOW    OK    NEVER  ;    OJt, 

It  did  not  take  him  long  to  make  his  toilet,  which 
was  the  only  advantage  of  his  primitive  style  of  lodg 
rag.  His  first  ohject  was  to  examine  his  position, 
and  ascertain  in  what  direction  he  should  continue 
his  flight.  Hi  could  not  go  ahead,  as  he  had  intend 
ed,  for  the  sheet  of  water  was  an  impassable  barrier. 
Leaving  the  dense  forest,  he  came  to  a  marsh,  beyond 
which  was  the  wide  creek  he  had  seen  in  the  night. 
It  was  salt  water,  and  he  reasoned  that  it  could  not 
extend  a  great  way  inland.  His  only  course  was  to 
follow  it  till  he  found  means  of  crossing  it. 

Following  the  direction  of  the  creek,  he  kept  near 
the  margin  of  the  wood  till  he  came"  to  a  public  road. 
He  had  some  doubts  about  trusting  himself  out  of  the 
forest,  even  for  a  single  moment ;  so  he  seated  himself 
upon  a  rock  to  argue  the  point.  If  any  one  should 
happen  to  come  along,  he  was  almost  sure  of  furnisn- 
ing  a  clew  to  his  future  movements,  if  not  of  being 
immediately  captured. 

This  was  a  very  strong  argument,  but  there  was  a 
stronger  one  upon  the  other  side.  He  had  eaten 
nothing  since  dinner  on  the  preceding  day,  and  Le 
began  to  feel  faint  for  the  want  of  food.  On  the 


THE    ADVENTUBES    OF    BOBBY    BBIGHT.        227 

flther  side  of  the  creek  he  saw  a  pasture  which  looked 
as  though  it  might  afford  him  a  few  berries ;  and  he 
was  on  the  point  of  taking  to  the  road,  when  he  heard 
the  rumbling  of  a  wagon  in  the  distance. 

His  heart  beat  with  apprehension.  Perhaps  it  wag 
some  officer  of  the  institution  in  search  of  him.  At 
any  rate  it  was  some  one  who  had  come  from  the 
vicinity  of  the  Reform  School,  and  who  had  probably 
aeard  of  his  escape.  As  it  came  nearer,  he  heard  the 
jingling  of  bells  ;  it  was  the  baker.  How  he  longed 
for  a  loaf  of  his  bread,  or  some  of  the  precious  ginger 
bread  he  carried  in  his  cart !  Hunger  tempted  him 
to  run  the  risk  of  exposure.  He  had  money ;  he 
could  buy  cakes  and  bread  ;  and  perhaps  the  baker  had 
a  kind  heart,  and  would  befriend  him  in  his  distress 
The  wagon  was  close  at  hand. 

"  Now  or  never,"  thought  he  ;  but  this  time  it  was 
not  now.  The  risk  was  too  great.  If  he  failed  now, 
two  years  of  captivity  were  before  him;  and  as  foi 
the  hunger,  he  could  grin  and  bear  it  for  a  while. 

"  Now  or  never  ; "  but  this  time  it  was  escape  now 
or  never  ;  and  he  permitted  the  baker  to  pass  withou. 
hailing  him. 


228  NOW  OK  NEVEK;  OB, 

He  waited  half  an  hour,  and  then  determined  tc 
take  the  road  till  he  had  crossed  the  creek.  The 
danger  was  great,  but  the  pangs  of  hunger  urged  him 
on.  He  was  sure  there  were  berries  in  the  pasture, 
and  with  a  timid  step,  carefully  watching  before  and 
behind  to  insure  himself  against  surprise,  he  crossed 
the  bridge.  But  then  a  new  difficulty  presented  it 
self.  There  was  a  house  within  ten  rods  of  the 
bridge,  which  he  must  pass,  and  to  do  so  would  ex 
pose  him  to  the  most  imminent  peril.  He  was  on 
the  point  of  retreating,  when  a  man  came  out  of  the 
house,  and  approached  him.  What  should  he  do  ? 
It  was  a  trying  moment.  If  he  ran,  the  act  would 
expose  him  to  suspicion.  If  he  went  forward,  the 
man  might  have  already  received  a  description  of  him, 
and  arrest  him. 

He  chose  the  latter  course.  The  instinct  of  hia 
being  was  to  do  every  thing  in  a  straightforward 
manner,  and  this  probably  prompted  his  decision. 

"  Good  morning,  sir,"  said  he  boldly  to  the  man. 

"  Good  morning.     Where  are  you  travelling  ?  " 

This  was  a  hard  question.  He  did  not  know  where 
he  was  travelling ;  besides,  even  in  his  present  diffi 
cult  position,  he  could  not  readily  resort  to  a  lie. 


XHE  ADVENTUELS  OF  BOBBY  BKIGHT.    224 

"  Down  here  a  piece,"  he  replied. 

"  Travelled  far  to-day  ?  " 

"  Not  far.  Good  morning,  sir ; "  and  Bobby  re 
sumed  his  walk. 

"  I  say,  boy,  suppose  you  tell  me  where  you  are 
going ;  "  and  the  man  came  close  to  him,  and  deliber 
ately  surveyed  him  from  head  to  foot. 

"  I  can  hardly  tell  you,"  replied  Bobby,  summon 
ing  courage  for  the  occasion. 

"  Well,  I  suppose  not,"  added  the  man,  with  a 
meaning,  smile. 

Bobby  felt  his  strength  desert  him  as  he  realized 
that  he  was  suspected  of  being  a  runaway  from  the 
Reform  School.  That  smile  on  the  man's  face  was 
the  knell  of  hope ;  and  for  a  moment  he  felt  a  flood 
of  misery  roll  over  his  soul.  But  the  natural  elas 
ticity  of  his  spirits  soon  came  to  his  relief,  and  he 
resolved  not  to  give  up  the  ship,  even  if  he  had  to 
figbi  for  it. 

"  I  am  in  a  hurry,  so  I  shall  have  to  leave  you." 

"  Not  just  yet,  young  man.     Perhaps,  as  you  don't 
know  where  you  are  going,  you  may  remember  what 
your  name  is,'?  continued  the  man,  good  na^uredly. 
2.0 


230  NOW    OB    NEVER  ;    OK 

There  was  a  temptation  to  give  a  false  name  ;  but 
is  it  was  so  strongly  beaten  into  our  hero  that  the 
truth  is  better  than  a  falsehood,  he  held  his  peace. 

"  Excuse  me,  sir,  but  I  can't  stop  to  talk  now." 

"  In  a  hurry  ?  Well,  I  dare  say  you  are.  I  sup 
pose  there  is  no  doubt  but  you  are  Master  Robert 
Bright." 

"  Not  the  least,  sir ;  I  haven't  denied  it  yet,  and  I 
am  not  ashamed  of  my  name,"  replied  Bobby,  with  a 
good  deal  of  spirit. 

"  That's  honest ;  I  like  that." 

"  '  Honesty  is  the  best  policy,'  "  added  Bobby. 

"  That's  cool  for  a  rogue,  any  how.  You  ought  to 
thought  of  that  afore." 

"  I  did." 

"  And  stole  the  money  ?  " 

"  I  didn't.     I  never  stole  a  penny  in  my  life." 

"  Come,  I  like  that." 

"  It  is  the  truth." 

"  But  they  won't  believe  it  over  to  the  Reform 
Bchool,"  laughed  the  man. 

"  They  will  one  of  these  days,  perhaps." 

**  You  are  a  smart  youngster ;  but  I  don't  know  at 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF  BOBBY  BRIGHT.    23 

I  nan  make  five  dollars  any  easier  than  by  taking  you 
back  where  you  come  from." 

"  Yes,  you  can,"  replied  Bobby,  promptly 

"  Can  I  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  How  ?  " 

"  By  letting  me  go." 

"  Eh  ;  you  talk  flush.  I  suppose  you  mean  to  give 
me  your  note,  payable  when  the  Kennebec  dries  up." 

"  Cash  on  the  nail,"  replied  Bobby.  "  You  look 
like  a  man  with  a  heart  in  your  bosom."  —  Bobby 
stole  this  passage  from  "  The  Wayfarer." 

"  I  reckon  I  have.  The  time  hasn't  come  yet  when 
Sam  Ray  could  see  a  fellow-creature  in  distress  and 
not  help  him  out.  But  to  help  a  thief  off " 

"  We  will  argue  that  matter,"  interposed  Bobby. 
"  I  can  prove  to  you  beyond  a  doubt  that  I  am  inno 
cent  of  the  crime  charged  upon  me." 

"  You  don't  look  like  a  bad  boy,  I  mi:st  say." 

"  But,  Mr.  Ray,  I'm  hungry ;  I  haven't  eaten  a 
mouthful  since  yesterday  noon." 

"Thunder!  You  don't  say  so!"  exclaimed  Sam 
Kay  "  1  never  could  bear  to  see  a  man  hungry,  mucb 


232  NOW    OK    NEVEB.  ;    OK, 

more  a  boy ;  so  come  along  to  my  house  and  get  some* 
thing  to  eat,  and  we  will  talk  about  the  other  matter 
afterwards." 

Sam  Ray  took  Bobby  to  the  little  old  house  in 
which  he  dwelt ;  and  in  a  short  time  his  wife,  who 
expressed  her  sympathy  for  the  little  fugitive  in  the 
warmest  terms,  had  placed  an  abundant  repast  upon 
the  table.  Our  hero  did  ample  justice  to  it,  and  when 
he  had  finished  he  felt  like  a  new  creature. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Ray,  let  me  tell  you  my  story,"  said 
Bobby. 

"  I  don't  know  as  it's  any  use.  Now  you  have  eat 
my  bread  and  butter,  I  don't  feel  like  being  mean  to 
you.  If  any  body  else  wants  to  carry  you  back,  they 
may  ;  I  won't." 

"  But  you  shall  hear  me  ;  "  and  Bobby  proceeded 
to  deliver  his  "  plain,  unvarnished  tale." 

When  he  had  progressed  but  a  little  way  in  the  nar 
rative,  the  noise  of  an  approaching  vehicle  was  heard. 
Sam  looked  out  of  the  window,  as  almost  every  body 
does  in  the  country  when  a  carriage  passes. 

"  By  thunder .'     It's  the  Reform  School  wagon  ! ' 
Wtclaimed  he.     "  This  way,  boy !  "    and    the    good- 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         235 

hearted  man  thrust  him  into  his  chamber,  bidd'ng  him 
get  under  the  bed. 

The  carriage  stopped  at  the  house  ;  but  Sam  evaded 
a  direct  reply,  and  the  superintendent  —  for  it  was  he 
—  proceeded  on  his  search. 

"  Heaven  bless  you,  Mr.  Ray ! "  exclaimed  Bobby, 
when  he  came  out  of  the  chamber,  as  the  tears  of 
gratitude  coursed  down  his  cheeks. 

"  O,  you  will  find  Sam  Ray  all  right,"  said  he, 
fcrarmly  pressing  Bobby's  proffered  hand.  "  I  ain't 
quite  a  heathen,  though  some  folks  around  here 
think  so." 

"  You  are  an  angel !  " 

"  Not  exactly,"  laughed  Sam. 

Our  hero  finished  his  story,  and  confirmed  it  by 
exhibiting  his  account  book  and  some  other  papers 
which  he  had  retained.  Sam  Ray  was  satisfied,  and 
vowed  that  if  ever  he  saw  Tom  Spicer  he  would  cer 
tainly  "  lick  "  him  for  his  sake. 

"  Now,  sonny,  I  like  you  ;  I  will  be  sworn  you  are 

a  good  fellow  ;  and  I  mean  to  help  you  off.     So  just 

come  along  with  me.     I  make  my  living  by  browsing 

round,  hunting  and  fishing  a  little,  and  doing  an  odd 

20* 


284  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;    OR, 

'ob  now  a.nd  then.  You  see,  I  have  got  a  good  boat 
down  the  creek,  and  I  shall  just  put  you  aboard  and 
take  you  any  where  you  have  a  mind  to  go." 

"  May  Heaven  reward  you  '  "  cried  Bobby,  almost 
overcome  by  this  sudden  and  unexpected  kindness. 

**  O,  I  don't  want  no  reward ;  only  when  you  get  to 
be  a  great  man  —  and  I  am  Head  sure  you  will  be  a 
great  man  — just  think  now  and  then  of  Sam  Ray, 
and  it's  all  right." 

"  I  shall  remember  you  with  gratitude  as  long  as  I 
live." 

Sam  Ray  took  his  gun  on  his  shoulder,  and  Bob 
by  the  box  of  provision  which  Mrs.  Ray  had  put  up, 
and  they  left  the  house.  At  the  bridge  they  got  into 
a  little  skiff,  and  Sam  took  the  oars.  After  they  had 
passed  a  bend  in  the  creek  which  concealed  them  from 
the  road,  Bobby  felt  secure  from  further  molestation. 

Sam  pulled  about  two  miles  down  the  creek,  where 
it  widened  into  a  broad  bay,  near  the  head  of  which 
was  anchored  a  small  schooner. 

"  Now,  my  hearty,  nothing  short  of  Uncle  Sam's 
whole  navy  can  get  you  away  from  me."  said  Sam,  aa 
he  pulled  alongside  the  schooner. 


THE    A.DVENTUKES    OF    BOBBY    BKIGHT          235 

"  You  have  been  very  kind  to  me." 

"  All  right,  soriny.     Now  tumble  aboard." 

Bobbyvjumped  upon  the  deck  of  the  little  craft 
and  Sam  followed  him,  after  making  fast  the  skiff  to 
the  schooner's  moorings. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  little  vessel  was  standing  down 
the  bay  with  "  a  fresh  wind  and  a  flowing  sheet." 
Bobby,  who  had  never  been  in  a  sail  boat  before,  was 
delighted,  and  in  no  measured  terms  expressed  hia 
admiration  of  the  working  of  the  trim  little  craft. 

"  Now,  sonny,  where  shall  we  go  ?  "  asked  Sam,  as 
they  emerged  from  the  bay  into  the  broad  ocean. 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Bobby.  "  I  want  to  get 
back  to  Boston." 

"  Perhaps  I  can  put  you  aboard  of  some  coastel 
bound  there." 

"  That  will  do  nicely." 

"  I  will  head  towards  Boston,  and  if  I  don't  over 
haul  any  thing,  I  will  take  you  there  myself." 

"  Is  this  boat  big  enough  to  go  so  far  ?  " 

"'  She'll  stand  any  thing  short  of  a  West  India  hur 
ricane.  You  ain't  afeerd,  are  you  ?  " 

"  O,  no;  I  like  it." 


236  NOW  OR  NEVER;  OB, 

The  big  waves  now  tossed  the  little  vessel  up  and 
down  like  a  feather,  and  the  huge  seas  broke  upon  the 
bow,  deluging  her  deck  with  floods  of  watert  Bobby 
nad  unlimited  confidence  in  Sam  Ray,  and  felt  as  much 
at  home  as  though  he  had  been  "  cradled  upon  the  briny 
deep."  There  was  an  excitement  in  the  scene  which 
accorded  with  his  nature,  and  the  perils  which  he  had 
BO  painfully  pictured  on  the  preceding  night  were  all 
born  into  the  most  lively  joys. 

They  ate  their  dinners  from  the  provision  box  ;  Sam 
lighted  his  pipe,  and  many  a  tale  he  told  of  adven 
ture  by  sea  and  land.  Bobby  felt  happy,  and  almost 
dreaded  the  idea  of  parting  with  his  rough  but  good- 
hearted  friend  They  were  now  far  out  at  sea,  and 
the  night  was  coming  on. 

"  Now,  sonny,  you  had  better  turn  in  and   take  a 

v 
pnooze  ;  you  didn't  rest  much  last  night." 

"  I  am  not  sleepy ;  but  there  is  one  thing  I  will  do ;  " 
and  Bobby  drew  from  his  secret  receptacle  his  roll  of 
bills. 

"  Put  them  up,  sonny,"  said  Sam. 

"  I  want  to  make  you  a  present  of  ten  dollars." 

"You  can't  do  it." 


THE    ADVEHTUKES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.        23  < 

"  Nay,  but  to  please  me." 

"  No,  sir !  " 

"Well,  then,  let  me  send  it  to  your  good  wife/' 

"  You  can't  do  that,  nuther,"  replied  Sam,  gazing 
earnestly  at  a  lumber-laden  schooner  ahead  of  him. 

"You  must;  your  good  heart  made  you  lose  five 
dollars,  and  I  insist  upon  making  it  up  to  you." 

"  You  can't  do  it." 

"  T  shall'  feel  bad  if  you  don't  take  it.  You  see  I 
have  twenty  dollars  here,  and  I  would  like  to  give 
you  the  whole  of  it." 

"Not  a  cent,  sonny.  I  ain't  a  heathen.  That 
schooner  ahead  is  bound  for  Boston,  I  reckon." 

"  1  shall  be  sorry  to  part  with  you,  Mr.  Rav." 

"Just  my  sentiment.  I  hain't  seen  a  youngster 
afore  for  many  a  day  that  I  took  a  fancy  to,  and  I  hate 
to  let  you  go." 

"  We  shall  meet  again." 

"  I  hope  so." 

••  Please  to  take  this  money." 

"  No  ;  "  and  Sam  shook  his  head  so  resolutely  that 
Bobby  gave  up  the  point. 

As  Sam  had  conjectured,  the  lumber  schooner  was 


238  KOW    OR    NEVER;    OR, 

bound  to  Boston.  Her  captain  readily  agreed  to  take 
our  hero  on  board,  and  he  sadly  bade  adieu  to  his 
kind  friend. 

"  Good  by,  Mr.  Ray,"  said  Bobby,  as  the  schooner 
filled  away.  "  Take  this  to  remember  me  by." 

It  was  his  jackknife ;  but  Sam  did  not  discover  the 
ten  dollar  bill,  which  was  shut  beneath  the  blade,  till 
it  was  too  late  to  return  it. 

Bobby  did  not  cease  to  ws  ve  his  hat  to  Sam  till  hit 
little  "raft  disappeared  in  the  darkness. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    HEIGHT.         239 


CHAPTER     XX. 

IN    WHICH     THE    CLOUDS     BLOW    OVER,    AND     BOBBY 
IS    HIMSELF    AGAIN. 

FORTUNATELY  for  Bobby,  the  wind  began  to  blow 
very  heavily  soon  after  he  went  on  board  of  the  lum 
ber  schooner,  so  that  the  captain  was  too  much  en 
gaged  in  working  his  vessel  to  ask  many  questions. 
He  was  short  handed,  and  though  our  hero  was  not 
much  of  a  sailor,  he  made  himself  useful  to  the  best 
of  his  ability.  Though  the  wind  was  heavy,  it  was 
not  fair ;  and  it  was  not  tiH  the  third  morning  after 
his  parting  with  Sam  Ray  that  the  schooner  arrived 
off  Boston  Light.  The  captain  then  informed  him 
that,  as  the  ti.de  did  not  favor  him,  he  might  not  get 
up  to  the  city  for  twenty-four  hours  ;  and,  if  he  was 
in  a  hurry,  he  would  put  him  on  board  a  pilot  boat 
which  he  saw  standing  up  the  channel. 

"  Thank    you,  captain ;    you    are    very    kind,  but 


240  NOW    OR    NEVER  ;    OK, 

it  would  give  you  a  great  deal  of  trouble,"  said 
Bobby. 

"  None  at  all.  We  must  wait  here  till  the  tide 
turns ;  so  we  have  nothing  better  to  do." 

"  I  should  be  very  glad  to  get  up  this  morning." 

"  You  shall,  then  ;  "  and  the  captain  ordered  two 
men  to  get  out  the  jolly  boat. 

"  I  will  pay  my  passage  now,  if  you  please." 

"  That  is  paid." 

"  Paid  ?  " 

"  I  should  say  you  had  worked  your  passage.  You 
have  done  very  well,  and  I  shall  not  charge  you  any 
thing." 

"  I  expected  to  pay  my  passage,  captain ;  but  if 
you  think  I  have  done  enough  to  pay  it,  why,  I  have 
nothing  to  say,  only  that  I  am  very  much  obliged  to 
you." 

"  You  ought  to  be  a  sailor,  young  man  ;  you  were 
cut  out  for  one." 

"  I  like  the  sea,  though  I  never  saw  it  till  a  few 
weeks  since.  But  I  suppose  my  mother  would  not 
let  me  go  to  sea." 

"  I  suppose  not ;  mothers  are  always  afraid  of  salt 
water." 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         241 

By  this  time  the  jolly  boat  was  alongside;  and 
bidding  the  captain  adieu,  he  jumped  into  it,  and  the 
men  pulled  him  to  the  pilot  boat,  which  had  come  up 
into  the  wind  at  the  captain's  hail.  Bobby  was  kind 
ly  received  on  board,  and  in  a  couple  of  hours  landed 
at  the  wharf  in  .Boston. 

With  a  beating  heart  he  made  his  way  up  into 
Washington  Street.  He  felt  strangely ;  his  cheeks 
seemed  to  tingle,  for  he  was  aware  that  the  imputation 
of  dishonesty  was  fastened  upon  him.  He  could  not 
doubt  but  that  the  story  of  h~s  alleged  crime  had 
reached  the  city,  and  perhaps  gone  to  his  friends  in 
River  dale.  How  his  poor  mother  must  have  wept  to 
think  her  son  was  a  thief!  No;  she  nevei  could 
have  thought  that.  She  knew  he  would  not  steal,  if 
no  one  else  did.  And  Annie  Lee  —  would  she  ever 
smile  upon  him  again  ?  Would  she  welcome  him  to 
her  father's  house  so  gladly  as  she  had  done  in  the 
past  ?  He  could  bring  nothing  to  establish  his  inno 
cence  but  his  previous  character.  Would  not  Mr. 
Bayard  frown  upon  him  ?  Would  not  even  Ellen  bo 
tempted  to  forget  the  service  he  had  rendered  her  ? 

Bobby  had  thought  of  all  these  things  before  —  on 
21 


242  NOW  OR  NEVER;    OB,, 

his  cold,  damp  bed  in  the  forest,  in  the  watches  of  the 
tempestuous  night  on  hoard  the  schooner.  But  now, 
when  he  was  almost  in  the  presence  of  those  he  loved 
and  respected,  they  had  more  force,  and  they  nearly 
overwhelmed  him. 

"  I  am  innocent,"  he  repeated  to  himself,  "  and 
why  need  I  fear  ?  My  good  Father  in  heaven  will 
not  let  me  be  wronged." 

Yet  he  could  not  overcome  his  anxiety  ;  and  when 
he  reached  the  store  of  Mr.  Bayard,  he  passed  by, 
dreading  to  face  the  friend  who  had  been  so  kind  to 
him.  He  could  not  bear  even  to  be  suspected  of  a 
crime  by  him. 

"  Now  or  never,"  said  he,  as  he  turned  round.  "I 
will  know  my  fate  at  once,  and  then  make  the  best 
of  it." 

Mustering  all  his  courage,  he  entered  the  store- 
Mr.  Timmins  was  not  there ;  so  he  was  spared  the 
infliction  of  any  ill-natured  remark  from  him. 

"Hallo,  Bobby!"  exclaimed  the  gentlemanly 
salesman,  whose  acquaintance  he  had  made  on  his 
first  visit. 

"*  Good  morning,  Mr.  Bigelow,"  replied  Bobby 
with  as  much  boldness  as  he  could  command. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.        242 

*'  I  didn't  know  as  I  shoald  ever  see  you  again. 
You  have  been  gone  a  long  while." 

"  Longer  than  usual,"  answered  Bobby,  with  a 
blush ;  for  he  considered  the,  remark  of  the  sales 
man  as  an  allusion  to  his  imprisonment.  "  Is  Mr. 
Bayard  in  r  " 

"  He  is  —  in  his  office." 

Bobby's  feet  would  hardly  obey  the  mandate  of  his 
will,  and  with  a  faltering  step  he  entered  the  private 
room  of  the  bookseller.  Mr.  Bayard  was  absorbed 
in  the  perusal  of  the  morning  paper,  and  did  not  ob 
serve  his  entrance.  With  his  heart  up  in  his  throat, 
and  almost  choking  him,  he  stood  for  several  minutes 
upon  the  threshold.  He  almost  feared  to  speak, 
dreading  the  severe  frown  with  which  he  expected 
to  be  received.  Suspense,  however,  was  more  pain 
ful  than  condemnation,  and  he  brought  his  resolution 
up  to  the  point. 

"  Mr.  Bayard,"  said  he,  in  faltei'ing  tones. 

"  Bobby  !  "  exclaimed  the  bookseller,  dropping  his 
paper  upon  the  floor,  and  jumping  upon  his  feet  as 
though  an  electric  current  had  passed  through  his 
frame. 


244  NOW    OR    XEVER  ;    OR, 

Grasping  our  hero's  hand,  he  shook  it  with  so 
much  energy  that,  under  any  other  circumstances, 
Bobby  would  have  thought  it  hurt  him.  He  did  not 
think  so  now. 

"  My  poor  Bobby  !  I  am  delighted  to  see  you ! " 
continued  Mr.  Bayard. 

Bobby  burst  into  tears,  and  sobbed  like  a  child,  as 
he  was.  The  unexpected  kindness  of  this  reception 
completely  overwhelmed  him. 

"  Don't  cry,  Bobby  ;  I  know  all  about  it ; "  and  the 
tender-hearted  bookseller  wiped  away  his  tears.  "  It 
was  a  stroke  of  misfortune  ;  but  it  is  all  right  now." 

But  Bobby  could  not  help  crying,  and  the  more 
Mr.  Bayard  attempted  to  console  him,  the  more  he 
wept. 

u  I  am  innocent,  Mr.  Bayard,"  he  sobbed. 

"  I  know  you  are,  Bobby ;  and  all  the  world  knows 
you  are." 

"  I  am  ruined  now ;  I  shall  never  dare  to  hold  my 
head  up  again." 

"  Nonsense,  Bobby ;  you  will  hold  your  head  the 
higher*  You  have  behaved  like  a  hero." 

"  I  ran  away  from  the  State  Rnform  School,  sir. 


THE    A.DVENTTTEES    OP    BOBBY    BRIGHT.        215 

I  was  innocent,  and  I  would  rather  have  died  than 
staid  there." 

"  I  know  all  about  it,  my  young  friend.  Now  dry 
your  tears,  and  we  will  talk  it  all  over." 

Bobby  blowed  and  sputtered  a  little  more ;  but 
finally  he  composed  himself,  and  took  a  chair  by  Mr. 
Bayard's  side.  The  bookseller  then  drew  from  his 
pocket  a  ponderous  document,  with  a  big  official  seal 
upon  it,  and  exhibited  it  to  our  hero. 

"  Do  you  see  this,  Bobby  ?  It  is  your  free  and 
unconditional  pardon." 

"  Sir  !     Why " 

"  It  will  all  end  well,  you  may  depend." 

Bobby  was  amazed.  His  pardon  ?  But  it  would 
not  restore  his  former  good  name.  He  felt  that  he 
was  branded  as  a  felon.  It  was  not  mercy,  but  justice, 
that  he  wanted. 

"  Truth  is  mighty,  and  will  prevail,"  continued  Mr. 
Bayard;  "and  this  document  restores  your  reputation." 

"  I  can  hardly  believe  that." 

"  Can't  you  ?  Hear  my  story  then.  When  I  read 
in  one  of  the  Maine  papers  the  account  of  your  mis- 
Vvtune,  I  felt  that  you  had  been  grossly  wronged 
21* 


246  NOW    OK    NEVER  ;     OR, 

You  were  coupled  with  that  Tom  Spicer,  who  is  the 
most  consummate  little  villain  I  ever  saw,  and  I  un« 
derstood  your  situation.  Ah,  Bobby,  your  only  mis 
take  was  in  having  any  tiling  to  do  with  that  fellow." 

"  I  left  him  at  Brunswick  because  he  began  to  be 
have  badly  ;  but  he  joined  me  again  at  Augusta.  He 
had  spent  nearly  all  his  money,  and  did  not  know 
what  to  do.  I  pitied  him,  and  meant  to  do  some 
thing  to  help  him  out  of  the  scrape." 

"  Generous  as  ever  !  I  have  heard  all  about  this 
before." 

"  Indeed  ;   who  told  you  ?  " 

"  Tom  Spicer  himself." 

"  Tom?  "  asked  Bobby,  completely  mystified. 

"  Yes,  Tom  ;  you  see,  when  I  heard  about  your 
trouble,  Squire  Lee  and  myself " 

"  Squire  Lee  ?     Does  he  know  about  it  ?  "  . 

"  He  does  ;  and  you  may  depend  upon  it,  he  thinks 
more  highly  of  you  than  ever  before.  He  and  I  im 
mediately  went  down  to  Augusta  to  inquire  into  the 
matter.  We  called  upon  the  governor  of  the  state, 
who  said  that  he  had  seen  you,  and  bought  a  book 
of  you." 


THE    AJIVENTURES    OP    BOBBY    BAIGHT.         241 

«*  Of  me  !  "  exclaimed  Bobby,  startled  to  think  he 
had  sold  a  book  to  a  governor. 

"  Yes  ;  you  called  at  his  house  ;  probably  you  did 
not  know  that  he  was  the  chief  magistrate  of  the 
state.  At  any  rate,  he  was  very  much  pleased  with 
you,  und  sorry  to  hear  of  your  misfortune.  Well,  we 
followed  your  route  to  Brunswick,  where  we  ascer 
tained  how  Tom  had  conducted.  In  a  week  he  es 
tablished  a.  very  bad  reputation  there  ;  but  nothing 
could  be  found  to  implicate  you.  The  squire  testified 
to  your  uniform  good  behavior,  and  especially  to  your 
devotion  to  ycur  mother.  In  short,  we  procured 
your  pardon,  and  hastened  with  it  to  the  State  Re 
form  School. 

"  On  our  arrival,  we  learned,  to  our  surprise  and 
regret,  that  you  had  escaped  from  the  institution  017 
the  preceding  evening.  Every  effort  was  made  *j 
retake  you,  but  without  success.  Ah,  Bobby,  you 
managed  that  well." 

"  They  didn't  look  in  the  right  place,"  replied 
Bobby,  with  a  smile,  for  he  began  to  feel  happy 
ugain.  , 

"  By  the  permission  of  the  superintendent.  Squire 


i48  NOW  OB  NEVER;  on, 

Lee  and  myself  examined  Tom  Spicer.  He  is  a  greai 
rascal.  Perhaps  he  thought  we  would  get  him  out; 
so  he  made  a  clean  breast  of  it,  and  confessed  that 
you  had  no  hand  in  the  robbery,  and  that  you  knew 
nothing  about  it.  He  gave  you  the  two  bills  on  pur 
pose  to  implicate  you  in  the  crime.  We  wrote  down 
his  statement,  and  had  it  sworn  to  before  a  justice  of 
the  peace.  You  shall  read  it  by  and  by." 

"  May  Heaven  reward  you  for  your  kindness  to  a 
poor  boy  ! "  exclaimed  Bobby,  the  tears  flowing  down 
his  cheeks  again.  "  I  did  'not  deserve  so  much  from 
you,  Mr.  Bayard." 

"  Yes,  you  did,  and  a  thousand  times  more.  I 
was  very  sorry  you  had  left  the  institution,  and  I 
waited  in  the  vicinity  till  they  said  there  was  no 
probability  that  you  would  be  captured.  The  .most 
extraordinary  efforts  were  used  to  find  you  ;  but  there 
was  not  a  person  to  be  found  who  had  seen  or  heard 
of  you.  I  was  very  much  alarmed  about  you,  and 
offered  a  hundred  dollars  for  any  information  concern 
ing  you." 

"  I  am  sorry  you  had  so  much  trouble.  I  wish  V 
had  known  you  wer-  there." 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.        249 

"  How  did  you  get  off?  " 

Bobby  briefly  related  the  story  of  his  escape,  and 
Mr.  Bayard  pronounced  his  skill  worthy  of  hia 
genius. 

"  Sam  Ray  is  a  good  fellow;  we  will  remem 
ber  him,"  added  the  bookseller,  when  he  had  fin 
ished. 

"  I  shall  remember  him ;  and  only  that  I  shall  be 
afraid  to  go  into  the  State  of  Maine  after  what  has 
happened,  I  should  pay  him  a  visit  one  of  these 
days." 

"  There  you  are  wrong.  Those  who  know  youl 
story  would  sooner  think  of  giving  you  a  public  re 
ception,  than  of  saying  or  doing  any  thing  to  injure 
your  feelings.  Those  who  have  suffered  unjustly  are 
always  lionized." 

"  But  no  one  will  know  my  story,  only  that  I  was 
nent  to  prison  for  stealing." 

"  There  you  are  mistaken  again.  We  put  articles 
ia  all  the  principal  papers,  stating  the  facts  in  tne 
tase,  and  establishing  your  innocence  beyond  a  per- 
adventure  Go  to  Augusta  now,  Bobby,  and  you 
will  be  a  lion." 


250  NOW    OK    NEVER  ;    On, 

"  I  am  sure  1  had  no  idea  of  getting  out  of  the 
scrape  «o  easily  as  this." 

"  Innocence  shall  triumph,  my  young  friend." 

"  What  does  mother  say  ?  "  asked  Bobby,  his  coun 
tenance  growing  sad. 

"  I  do  not  know.  We  returned  from  Maine  only 
yesterday  ;  but  Squire  Lee  will  satisfy  her.  All  that 
can  worry  her,  as  it  has  worried  me,  will  be  her  feara 
for  your  safety  when  she  hears  of  your  escape." 

"  I  will  soon  set  her  mind  at  ease  upon  that  point 
I  will  take  the  noon  train  home." 

"  A  word  about  business  before  you  go.  I  dis 
charged  Timmins  about  a  week  ago,  anl  I  have  kept 
his  place  for  you." 

"  By  gracious  ! "  exclaimed  Bobby,  thrown  com 
pletely  out  of  his  propriety  by  this  announcement. 

"  I  think  you  will  do  better,  in  the  long  run,  than 
you  would  to  travel  about  the  country.  I  was  talk 
ing  with  Ellen  about  it,  and  she  says  it  shall  be  so. 
Timmins' s  salary  was  five  hundred  dollars  a  year,  and 
you  shall  have  the  same." 

"  Five  hundred  dollars  a  year !  "  ejaculated  Bobby, 
amazed  at  the  va  -tness  of  the  sum. 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BR1GHX.         251 

"  Very  well  for  a  boy  of  thirteen,  Bobby." 

"  1  was  fourteen  last  Sunday,  sir." 

"  I  would  not  give  any  other  boy  so  much ;  but  you 
are  worth  it,  and  you  shall  have  it." 

Probably  Mr.  Bayard's  gratitude  had  something  to 
do  with  this  munificent  offer  ;  but  he  knew  that  our 
hero  possessed  abilities  and  energy  far  beyond  his 
years.  He  further  informed  Bobby  that  he  should 
have  a  room  at  his  house,  and  that  Ellen  was  de 
lighted  with  the  arrangement  he  proposed. 

The  gloomy,  threatening  clouds  were  all  rolled 
back,  and  floods  of  sunshine  streamed  in  upon  the 
soul  of  the  little  merchant ;  but  in  the  midst  of  his 
rejoicing  he  remembereu  that  his  own  integrity  had 
carried  him  safely  through  the  night  of  sorrow  and 
doubt.  He  had  been  true  to  himself,  and  now,  in  the 
hour  of  his  great  triumph,  he  realized  that,  if  he  had 
been  faithless  to  the  light  within  him,  his  laurel  would 
have  been  a  crown  of  thorns. 

He  was  happy  —  very  happy.  What  made  him 
SO  ?  Not  his  dawning  prosperity  ;  not  the  favor  of 
Mr.  Bayard ;  not  the  handsome  salary  he  was  to  re 
ceive  ;  for  all  thesr  *hings  would  have  been  hut  dross, 


262  NOW   Ofc    NEVEB  ;    OK, 

if  he  had  sacrificed  his  integrity,  his  love  of  truth  and 
uprightness.  He  had  been  true  .to  himself,  and 
unseen  angels  had  held  him  up.  He  had  been  faith 
ful,  and  the  consciousness  of  his  fidelity  to  principle 
made  a  heaven  within  his  heart. 

It  was  arranged  that  he  should  enter  upon  the  du 
ties  of  his  new  situation  on  the  following  week.  Af 
ter  settling  with  Mr.  Bayard,  he  found  he  had  nearly 
seventy  dollars  in  his  possession  ;  so  that  in  a  pecu 
niary  point  of  view,  if  in  no  other,  his  eastern  excur 
sion  was  perfectly  satisfactory. 

By  the  noon  train  he  departed  for  Riverdale,  and 
in  two  hours  more  he  was  folded  to  his  mother's 
heart.  Mrs.  Bright  wept  tor  joy  now,  as  she  had 
before  wept  in  misery  when  she  heard  of  her  son's 
misfortune.  It  took  him  all  the  afternoon  to  tell 
his  exciting  story  to  her,  and  she  was  almost  be- 
pide  herself  when  Bobby  told  her  about  his  new  sit 
uation. 

After  tea  he  hastened  over  to  Squire  Lee's ;  and 
my  young  readers  can  imagine  what  a  warm  recep 
tion  he  had  from  father  and  daughter.  For  the  third 
time  that  day  he  narrated  his  adventures  ir  the  east ; 


THE    ADVENTTJKES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         ?..'3 

and  Annie  declared  they  were  befter  than  any  novei 
she  had  ever  read.  Perhaps  it  was  because  Bobby  was 
the  hero.  It  was  nearly  ten  o'clock  before  he  finished 
his  story ;  and  when  he  left,  the  squire  made  him 
promise  to  come  over  the  next  day. 
22 


KOW  OB  NEYEB:  o& 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

IN  WHICH    BOBBY  STEPS    OFF    THK    STAGE,  AND    THH 
AUTHOR    MUST    FINISH  "  NOW    OK    NEVER." 

THE  few  days  which  Bobby  remained  at  home  be 
fore  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  new  situation 
were  agreeably  filled  up  in  calling  upon  his  many 
friends,  and  in  visiting  those  pleasant  spots  in  the 
woods  and  by  the  river,  which  years  of  association 
had  rendered  dear  to  him.  His  plans  for  the  future 
too,  occupied  some  of  his  time,  though,  inasmuch  an 
his  path  of  duty  was  already  marked  out,  these  plans 
were  but  little  more  than  a  series  of  fond  imaginings ; 
in  short,  little  more  than  day  dreams.  I  have  before 
hinted  that  Bobby  was  addicted  to  castle  building, 
and  I  should  pity  the  man  or  boy  who  was  not  —  who 
had  no  bright  dream  of  future  achievements,  of  future 
usefulness.  "As  a  man  thinketh,  so  is  he,"  the 
Psalmist  tells  us,  and  it  was  the  pen  of  inspiration 


THE    ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT.         255 

which  wrote  it.  What  a  man  pictures  as  his  ideal 
of  that  which  is  desirable  in  this  world  and  the  world 
lo  come,  he  will  endeavor  to  attain.  Even  if  it  be  no 
higher  aim  than  the  possession  of  wealth  or  fame,  it 
is  good  and  worthy  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  fires  hia 
brain,  it  nerves  his  arm.  It  stimulates  him  to  action, 
and  action  is  the  soul  of  progress.  We  must  all 
work;  and  this  world  were  cold  and  dull  if  it  had 
no  bright  dreams  to  be  realized.  What  Napoleon 
dreamed,  he  labored  to  accomplish,  and  the  mcnarchs 
of  Europe  trembled  before  him.  What  Howard 
wished  to  be,  he  labored  to  be ;  his  ideal  was  beau 
tiful  and  true,  and  he  raised  a  throne  which  will  en 
dure  through  eternity. 

Bobby  dreamed  great  things.  That  bright  picture 
of  the  little  black  house  transformed  into  a  white  cot 
tage,  with  green  blinds,  and  surrounded  by  a  pretty 
fence,  was  the  nearest  object ;  and  before  Mrs.  Bright 
was  aware  that  he  was  in  earnest,  the  carpenters  and 
the  painters  were  upon  the  spot. 

"  Now  or  never,"  replied  Bobby  to  his  mother's  re 
monstrance.  "  This  is  your  home,  r.nd  it  shall  be  the 
pleasantest  spot  upon  earth,  if  I  can  makf  it  so." 


256  NOW    OK    NEVEB  ;    OS, 

Then  he  had  to  dream  about  his  business  in  Boston 
and  I  am  not  sure  but  that  he  fancied  himself  &  rich 
merchant,  like  Mr.  Bayard,  living  in  an  elegant  house 
in  Chestnut  Street,  and  having  clerks  and  porters 
to  do  as  he  bade  them.  A  great  many  young  men 
dream  such  things,  and  though  they  seem  a  little  silly 
when  spoken  out  loud,  they  are  what  wood  and  water 
are  to  the  steam  engine  —  they  are  the  mainspring  of 
action.  Some  are  stupid  enough  to  dream  about 
these  things,  and  spend  their  time  in  idleness  and  dis 
sipation,  waiting  for  "  the  good  time  coming."  It 
will  never  come  to  them.  They  are  more  likely  to 
die  in  the  almshouse  or  the  state  prison,  than  to  ride 
in  their  carriages ;  for  constant  exertion  is  the  price 
of  success. 

Bobby  enjoyed  himself  to  the  utmost  of  his  capa 
city  during  these  few  days  of  respite  from  labor.  He 
spent  a  liberal  share  of  his  time  at  Squire  Lee's 
where  he  was  almost  as  much  at  home  as  in  his 
mother's  house.  Annie  read  Moore's  Poems  to  him, 
till  he  began  to  have  quite  a  taste  for  poetry  himselt 

In  connection  with  Tom  Spicer's  continued  absence, 
which  had  to  be  explained,  Bobby's  trials  in  the  east- 


•^HE    AUVENTPKBS    OF    JiOBBY    BRIGHT          'J57 

era  country  leaked  out,  and  the  consequence^was,  that 
he  became  a  lion  in  Riverdale.  The  minister  invited 
him  to  tea,  as  well  as  other  prominent  persons,  for 
the  sake  of  hearing  his  story ;  but  Bobby  declined 
the  polite  invitations  from  sheer  bashfulness.  He 
had  not  brass  enough  to  make  himself  a  hero  ;  be 
sides,  the  remembrance  of  his  journey  was  any  thing 
but  pleasant  to  him. 

On  Monday  morning  he  took  the  early  train  for 
Boston,  and  assumed  the  duties  of  his  situation  in 
Mr.  Bayard's  store.  But  as  I  have  carried  rny  hero 
through  the  eventful  period  of  his  life,  I  cannot  dwell 
upon  his  subsequent  career.  He  applied  himself  with 
all  the  energy  of  his  nature  to  the  discharge  of  his 
duties.  Early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the  even 
ing  he  was  at  his  post.  Mr.  Bigelow  was  his  friend 
from  the  first,  and  gave  him  all  the  instruction  he  re 
quired.  His  intelligence  and  quick  perception  soor? 
enabled  him  to  master  the  details  of  the  business,  anvj 
by  tl  °.  time  he  was  fifteen,  he  was  competent  to  per- 
form  any  service  required  of  him. 

By  the  advice  of  Mr.  Bayard,  he  attended  an  even 
ing  school  for  six  months  in  the  year,  to  acquire  a 
22* 


258  wow  OK  NEVEB;  OK, 

knowledge  of  book  keeping,  and  to  compensate  for  Cht 
opportunities  of  which  he  had  been  necessarily  de 
prived  in  his  earlier  youth.  He  took  Dr.  Franklin 
for  his  model,  and  used  all  his  spare  time  in  reading 
good  books,  and  in  obtaining  such  information  and 
such  mental  culture  as  would  fit  him  to  be,  not  only  a 
good  merchant,  but  a  good  and  true  man. 

Every  Saturday  night  he  went  home  to  Riverdale 
to  spend  the  Sabbath  with  his  mother.  The  little 
black  house  no  longer  existed,  for  it  had  become  the 
little  paradise  of  which  he  had  dreamed,  only  that 
the  house  seemed  whiter,  the  blinds  greener,  and  the 
fence  more  attractive  than  his  fancy  had  pictured 
them.  His  mother,  after  a  couple  of  years,  at  Bobby's 
earnest  pleadings,  ceased  to  close  shoes  and  take  in 
washing ;  but  she  had  enough  and  to  spare,  for  her 
son's  salary  was  now  six  hundred  dollars.  His  kind 
employer  boarded  him  for  nothing,  (much  against 
Bobby's  will,  I  must  say,)  so  that  every  month  he 
carried  to  his  mother  thirty  dollars,  which  more  than 
paid  her  expenses. 


Eight  years  have  passed  by  since  Bobby  —  we  bog 


THE    A.DVENTTJHES    otf    BOBBY    BKIttHT.         259 

ais  pardon  ;  he  is  now  Mr.  Robert  Bright  —  entered 
the  store  of  Mr.  Bayard.  He  has  passed  from  the 
boy  to  the  man.  Over  the  street  door  a  new  sign  has 
,aken  the  place  of  the  old  one,  and  the  passer-bv 

reads,  — 

BAYARD   &   BRIGHT, 
BOOKSELLERS  AND  PUBLISHERS. 

The  senior  partner  resorts  to-  his  counting  room 
every  morning  from  the  force  of  habit ;  but  he  takes 
no  active  part  in  the  business.  Mr.  Bright  has  fre 
quent  occasion  to  ask  his  advice,  though  every  thing 
is  directly  managed  by  him ;  and  the  junior  is  ac 
counted  one  of  the  ablest,  but  at  the  same  time  one 
of  the  most  honest,  business  men  in  the  city.  His 
integrity  has  never  been  sacrificed,  even  to  the  emer 
gencies  of  trade.  The  man  is  what  the  boy  was  ; 
and  we  can  best  sum  up  the  results  of  his  life  by  say 
ing  that  he  has  been  true  to  himself,  true  to  his 
friends  and  true  to  his  God. 

Mrs.  Bright  is  still  living  at  the  little  white  cot 
tage,  happy  in  herself  and  happy  in  her  children. 
Bobby — we  mean  Mr.  Bright  —  has  hardly  missed 
going  to  Riverdale  on  a  Saturday  night  since  he  left 


260  NOW  OB.  NEVEB;  OB, 

home,  eight  years  before.  He  has  the  same  partiality 
for  those  famous  apple  pies,  and  his  mother  would  aa 
soon  think  of  being  without  bread  as  being  without 
apple  pies  when  he  comes  home. 

Of  course  Squire  Lee  and  Annie  were  always  glad 
to  see  him  when  he  came  to  Riverdale  ;  and  for  two 
years  it  had  been  common  talk  in  Riverdale  that  our 
hero  did  not  go  home  on  Sunday  evening  when  the 
clock  struck  nine.  But  as  this  is  a  forbidden  topic, 
we  will  ask  the  reader  to*  go  with  us  to  Mr,  Bay 
ard's  house  in  Chestnut  Street. 

What !  Annie  Lee  here  ? 

No ;  but  as  you  are  here,  allow  me  to  introduce 
Mrs.  Robert  Bright. 

They  were  married  a  few  months  before,  and  Mr. 
Bayard  insisted  that  the  happy  couple  should  make 
their  home  at  his  house. 

But  where  is  Ellen  Bayard? 

O,  she  is  Mrs.  Bigelow  now,  and  her  husband  is  at 
the  head  of  a  large  book  establishment  in  New  York. 

Bobby's  dream  had  been  realized,  and  he  was  the 
happiest  man  in  the  world  —  at  least  he  thought  so, 
which  is  just  the  same  thing.  He  had  been  success- 


THE   ADVENTURES    OF    BOBBY    BKIGHT.        261 

fal  in  business;  his  wife  —  the  friend  and  companion 
of  his  youth,  the  brightest  filament  of  the  bright 
vision  his  fancy  had  woven  —  had  been  won,  and  the 
future  glowed  with  brilliant  promises. 

He  had  been  successful ;  but  neither  nor  all  of 
fche  things  we  have  mentioned  constituted  his  highest 
and  truest  success  —  not  his  business  prosperity,  not 
the  bright  promise  of  wealth  in  store  for  him,  not 
his  good  name  among  men,  not  even  the  beautiful  and 
loving  wife  who  had  cast  her  lot  with  his  to  the  end 
of  time.  These  were  successes,  great  and  worthy, 
but  not  the  highest  success. 

He  had  made  himself  a  man,  —  this  was  his  real 
-success,  —  a  true,  a  Christian  man.  He  had  lived  a 
noble  life.  He  had  reared  the  lofty  structure  of  his 
manhood  upon  a  solid  foundation  —  principle.  It  ih 
the  rock  which  the  winds  of  temptation  and  the  rains 
of  selfislmess  cannot  move. 

Robert  Bright  is  t  ippy  because  he  is  good.  Tom 
Spicer,  now  in  the  state  prison,  is  unhappy,  —  not  be 
cause  he  is  in  the  state  prison,  but  because  the  evil 
passions  of  his  nature  are  at  war  with  the  peace  of  his 
soul.  He  has  fed  the  good  that  was  witr  ji  him  upuv 


262  NOW  OR  NEVEK;  OK. 

straw  and  husks,  and  starved  it  out.  He  is  a  body 
only ;  the  soul  is  dead  in  trespasses  and  sin.  He 
loves  no  one,  and  no  one  loves  him. 

During  the  past  summer,  Mr.  Bright  and  his  lady 
took  a  journey  "  down  east."  Annie  insisted  upon 
visiting  the  State  Reform  School ;  and  her  husband 
drove  through  the  forest  by  which  he  had  made  bis 
escape  on  that  eventful  night.  Afterwards  they 
called  upon  Sam  Ray,  who  had  been  "  dead  sure  that 
Bobby  would  one  day  be  a  great  man."  He  was 
about  the  same  person,  and  was  astonished  and  de 
lighted  when  our  hero  introduced  himself. 

They  spent  a  couple  of  hours  in  talking  over  the 
past,  and  at  his  departure,  Mr.  Bright  made  him  a 
handsome  present  in  such  a  delicate  manner  that  he 
could  not  help  accepting  it. 

Squire*  Lee  is  still  as  hale  and  hearty  as  ever,  and 
is  never  so  happy  as  when  Annie  and  her  husband 
come  to  Riverdale  to  spend  the  Sabbath.  He  is  fully 
of  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Bright  is  the  greatest  man  on 
the  western  continent,  and  he  would  not  be  in  the 
least  surprised  if  he  should  bo  elected  president  of 
the  United  States  one  of  these  days. 


THE    ADVENTURE.?    OF    BOBBY    BRIGHT          26'd 

The  little  merchant  is  a  great  merchant  now.  But 
more  than  this,  he  is  a  good  man.  He  has  formed 
his  character,  and  Le  will  probably  die  as  he  has 
lived. 

Reader,  if  you  have  any  good  work  to  do,  do  it 
now  ;  for  with  yc  u  it  may  be  "  Now  OB  NETJBX." 


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